occipital bone

occipital bone   n.  A curved, trapezoid compound bone that forms the lower posterior part of the skull; the occipital.

Main Entry: occipital bone
Function: noun
: a compound bone that forms the posterior part of the skull and surrounds the foramen magnum, bears the condyles forarticulation with the atlas, is composed of four united elements, is much curved and roughly trapezoidal in outline, ends in front of the foramen magnum in the basilar process, and bears on itsexternal surface behind the foramen magnum the two curved transverse superior and inferior nuchal lines as well as the median external occipital crest and external occipital protuberance

occipital bone n.
A bone at the lower and posterior part of the skull, consisting of basilar, condylar, and squamous parts and enclosing the foramen magnum.