Occurrence of the anterior tubercle in the margin of the occipital foramen
- MOJ Anatomy & Physiology
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José Aderval Aragão,1,2 Lucas Villar Shan de Carvalho Cardoso,1 Iapunira Catarina Sant’Anna Aragão,3 Felipe Matheus Sant’Anna Aragão,3 Mayara Evelyn Gomes Lopes,1 Erasmo de Almeida Júnior,2 Francisco Prado Reis2
Abstract
The presence of structures that pass along the anterior margin of the occipital foramen interposed between the basilar part of the occipital and the atlas may reduce the circumference of the foramen causing compression of the spinal cord and leading to signs and symptoms of neurological deficits due to its asymmetry. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of tuber at the occipital foramen margin. The incidence of occipital tubercle, probably formed by the apical ligament exostosis of the dens, was 0.28%. The tuber was arranged on the anterior margin of the occipital foramen and its length was about 4mm at its largest diameter. The knowledge of the presence of the occipital tubercle is of great clinical importance, as it may lead in many cases to compression of the neurovascular structures.
Keywords
occipital bone, anatomic variation, foramen magnum, skull base, atlanto-occipital joint, anterior tubercle, precondylar tubercle, foramen lacerum, medulla oblongata, foramen margin, forensic anthropology, tubercle, anteroposterior direction, occipital condyles, second cervical sclerotome
