The jugular process is a quadrilateral or triangular bony plate projecting lateralward from the posterior half of the

occipital condyle The occipital condyles are undersurface protuberances of the occipital bone in vertebrates, which function in articulation with the superior facets of the atlas vertebra. The condyles are oval or reniform (kidney-shaped) in shape, and their anteri ...

; it is a part of the

lateral part of the occipital bone The lateral parts of the occipital bone (also called the exoccipitals) are situated at the sides of the foramen magnum; on their under surfaces are the Occipital condyle, condyles for articulation with the superior facets of the Atlas (anatomy), at ...

. The jugular process is excavated in front by the jugular notch of occipital bone (which forms the posterior part of the

jugular foramen A jugular foramen is one of the two (left and right) large foramina (openings) in the base of the skull, located behind the carotid canal. It is formed by the temporal bone and the occipital bone. It allows many structures to pass, including the ...

). The posterolateral side of the jugular formanen is divided from the anteromedial side by the

intrajugular process of occipital bone Intrajugular process of occipital bone (''Processus intrajugularis ossis occipitalis'') is a small, pointed process extending from the middle of the jugular notch of occipital bone, that subdivides the jugular notch of the occipital bone into a lat ...

. The jugular process serves as the insertion of the

rectus capitis lateralis The rectus capitis lateralis, a short, flat muscle, arises from the upper surface of the transverse process of the atlas, and is inserted into the under surface of the jugular process of the occipital bone. Additional images File:Rectus capitis ...

References

External links

* Bones of the head and neck {{musculoskeletal-stub