THE SKULL THE CRANIUM 



165 



The upper half, formed by the curved line, is arcuate ; the lower 

 half is straight. The inferior angles are prominent, and, with the 

 regions about them, are called the jugular 1 or paroccipital 2 pro- 

 cesses. The lower margin is confined on each side to the lower 

 margin of the process, and fades out in the middle on the lower 

 surface of the basilar process, leaving between the line drawn as a 

 continuation of their inner ends and the lower margin of the foramen 

 magnum a narrow strip, a continuation below of the neck of the 

 condyles. The foramen magnum, or occipital foramen, pierces the 

 lower part of the occipital plate in the middle line. It is transversely 



FIG. 110. 



Lambdoidal Ridge, in front of this with Inter- 

 parietal and Parietal. 



With Temporal. 



Exoccipital. 



Jugular Process./ 



Anterior Condyloid Foramen. Bnsioccipital. 



OCCIPITAL BONE, OUTER OR POSTERIOR SURFACE. 



oval, about one-sixth wider than high. Its greatest width is contained 

 twice in the greatest height of the plate, and its greatest height is con- 

 tained about three times in the width of the plate at its base. It is 

 subject to variations in size and details of shape. Its margin is 

 sharply defined. On each side of the middle line above is a tubercle, 

 more or less developed, for the attachment of the posterior occipito- 

 atlantoid ligament. On the outside of this tubercle is an emargination 

 marking the beginning of the condyle ; then comes the sharp curved 

 inner edge of the most elevated portion of the condyle ; below this is 

 a projection due to the tubercle of the check ligament lying within 

 the wall ; the lower part of the outline is regularly emarginate. 



1 From jugulum, the throtit. 



2 From para (Gr.) beside, and occipital. 



