fusion of basi-, exo- and supra-occipitals (and maybe tabular), formed from the sclerotome of the occipital somites. It is not present in living or fossil agnathans or cartilaginous fishes, but appears to have arisen in parallel in many bony fishes. Incorporation of the occipital ver- tebrae into the skull was associated with the annexation of the upper part of the spinal cord into the brain, together with the first 2 spinal nerves as cranial nerves XI and XII

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/Gray194.png

os occipitale, occipital squama, occipital complex

uberon

UBERON:0001676

Occipital bone

• lambdoid suture
• occipitomastoid suture
• atlanto-occipital joint

• rectus capitis lateralis muscle
• rectus capitis anterior
• rectus capitis posterior major
• rectus capitis posterior minor
• sternooccipital muscle
• sternocephalicus muscle

• interparietal bone

• cleidooccipital muscle
• nuchal ligament

• foramen magnum

• clivus of occipital bone
• hypoglossal canal
• squamous part of occipital bone
• nuchal line attachment site