The occipital bone can be seen to articulate with the temporal bones laterally, as well as with the sphenoid bone anteriorly via its basilar part. The occipital condyles project inferiorly and articulate with the lateral masses of the first cervical vertebrae (atlas).

The superior nuchal line runs slightly inferior. It provides origin to the trapezius, sternocleidomastoid and splenius capitis muscles. The inferior nuchal line runs further inferiorly. The semispinal capitis muscle inserts above it.

The occipital bone is a flat, unpaired bone that forms a major part of the posterior wall and base of the skull. It is a complex structure that protects the cerebellum and occipital lobes of the cerebrum and provides attachment to several muscles and ligaments.

Each parietal bone is also bounded anteriorly by the frontal bone at the coronal suture, inferiorly by the temporal bone at the squamous suture, and posteriorly by the occipital bone at the lambdoid suture.

The occipital bone (/ ˌ ɒ k ˈ s ɪ p ɪ t əl /) is a cranial dermal bone and the main bone of the occiput (back and lower part of the skull). It is trapezoidal in shape and curved on itself like a shallow dish. The occipital bone overlies the occipital lobes of the cerebrum.