External occipital protuberance
Protuberantia occipitalis externa
Definition
The external occipital protuberance is a median protrusion located at the junction of the interparietal bone on the occipital bone.
Variation:
In dogs and horses, this protuberance corresponds to the highest point of the skull and therefore forms the dorsal suture of the bone or the “nuchal suture,” as opposed to the suture formed by the occipital condyles, called the “basilar suture.”
In cattle, the occipital bone is confined to the nuchal surface of the head and this bend is therefore much less prominent and is located more or less low on this surface.
References
Barone R. Anatomie comparée des mammifères domestiques, Tome 1, Ostéologie, 5th edition, Vigot, Paris, 2017.
Constantinescu GM, Schaller O. Illustrated veterinary anatomical nomenclature, 3rd Edition, Enke Verlag, Stuttgart, 2012.
König HE, Lieibich HG. Veterinary Anatomy of Domestic mammals, 6th edition, Schattauer, Stuttgart, 2014.
