Occipital condyle

Occipital condyles are two prominent bony outgrowths found beneath the lateral parts of the occipital bone. They are oval-shaped and located at the skull’s base. Their long axis points forward and inward, with their front ends reaching towards the basilar part of the occipital bone and their back ends stretching outwards and backwards, positioning themselves around the middle of the foramen magnum. The articular surfaces of the condyles are rounded and attach to the superior facets of the atlas vertebrae through a joint called the atlantooccipital joint. This joint links the skull to the vertebral column. Around each occipital condyle, there’s a joint capsule, and on their inner sides, there’s a rough spot for attaching the alar ligament. Above each occipital condyle, nestled between it and the lateral part of the occipital bone, lies a bony channel called the hypoglossal canal. This canal serves as a pathway for the hypoglossal nerve to pass through.