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The human occipital bone: review and update on its embryology and molecular development

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Abstract

Introduction

The formation of the occipital bone is intricate and has been extensively studied with many controversial conclusions, but with minimal effort being focused on the genes and molecular interactions necessary for its formation. A better understanding of this bone of the calvarial and skull base may shed light on pathologies where the occiput is often considered the offending entity.

Methods

A review of the germane medical literature using textbooks and standard search engines was performed to gather information about previous conclusions as it pertains to the embryology and ossification of the occipital bone.

Results

The occipital bone has both membranous and cartilaginous origin with ossification occurring as early as week 9 of fetal gestation. Its formations is dependent on complex interacts between genes and molecules with pathologies resulting from disruption of this delicate process.

Conclusion

There has been much controversy in the past in regards to the development and ossification process necessary for occipital bone formation, which has only recently been clarified with documentation of the genes and molecular interactions necessary for its formation. Lastly, this improved knowledge might improve our understanding of such congenital derailments as the Chiari malformations.

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Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Seattle Science Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA

    Shenell Bernard & R. Shane Tubbs

  2. Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George’s University, True Blue, Grenada

    Shenell Bernard & Marios Loukas

  3. Neurological Surgery, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA

    Elias Rizk

  4. Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Seattle, WA, USA

    Rod J. Oskouian & Johnny Delashaw

Authors
  1. Shenell Bernard
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  2. Marios Loukas
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  3. Elias Rizk
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  4. Rod J. Oskouian
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  5. Johnny Delashaw
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  6. R. Shane Tubbs
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Shane Tubbs.

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Bernard, S., Loukas, M., Rizk, E. et al. The human occipital bone: review and update on its embryology and molecular development. Childs Nerv Syst 31, 2217–2223 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-015-2870-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-015-2870-8

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