The mandibular fossa of the temporal bone, forming part of the skull behind the ear/s.Ī rounded projection that forms part of a joint (in combination with a fitting part of an adjacent bone) and is separated from the shaft of the same bone by a narrow portion (usually called a 'neck'). Such depressions in the surface of bones often receive another articulating bone with which a joint is formed. The foramen magnum of the occipital bone at the base of the skull.Īlso vertebral foramina in the vertebrae of the spine.Ī shallow depression (the word suggests 'ditch' or 'trench'). Round hole through which blood vessels, nerves or ligaments pass. The tympanomastoid fissure (also known as the auricular fissure) separates the tympanic portion of the temporal bone from the mastoid portion of the temporal bone and carries the auricular branch of the vagus nerve through the bone structure. Long, crack-line hole for blood vessels and nerves the superior articular facets of cervical vertebrae. Such flat surfaces may form a joint with another facet or flat bone.įacets (surfaces) of spinal vertebrae, e.g. The proximal epiphysis (shoulder-end) and the distal epiphysis (elbow-end) of the humerus bone.Ī smooth flat articular surface. The end part of a long bone which usually has a larger diameter than the shaft-part of the bone (which is called the diaphysis). The medial epicondyle of the humerus, which is larger and more prominent than the lateral epicondyle (of the humerus bone). the humerus, fibula, tibia and femur.īump near a condyle often give appearance of a 'bump on a bump' for muscle attachment The iliac crest of the ilium (bone), which is part of the hip. Such crests are often sites for a muscle attachment. Moderately raised and therefore prominent border or ridge.

The medial condyle of the femur (bone), upper-leg.

Such rounded surfaces usually fit into a fossa on another bone to form a joint. Rounded bump or large rounded prominence.

The diaphysis of long bones such as the humerus. These markings include the external occipital protuberance, the nuchal lines, and the external occipital crest.Inferior angle (lower) and superior angle (upper) are the rounded angles or 'corners' of the scapula. This is why when you read too much anatomy and start to nod off your head falls forward. To counteract this weight difference the muscles at the back of the neck must be strong enough to resist the head falling forward. If you look at a lateral view of the skull you can see that the greater mass of the skull is anterior to the occipital condyle. Markings – The markings on the external surface of the occipital bone are all involved with attachments of the ligaments and large muscles that are necessary to hold the head erect. Parts – The two main parts of the occipital bone are the squamous part which is the flat bone part that forms the posterior part of the calvarium and the basilar part which is the part that connects the bone to the sphenoid bone. Therefore, it has a pair of condyles, the occipital condyles found on the inferior surface that articulate with the atlas as discussed earlier. The occipital bone is the cranial bone that forms the posterior part of the calvarium and also is the articulation point with the bones of the neck.

Bone markings of the skull