Condyloid fossa

Behind either condyle of the lateral parts of occipital bone is a depression, the condyloid fossa (or condylar fossa), which receives the posterior margin of the superior facet of the atlas when the head is bent backward; the floor of this fossa is sometimes perforated by the condyloid canal, through which an emissary vein passes from the transverse sinus.

Condyloid fossa
Occipital bone. Outer surface. (Condyloid fossa visible but not labeled.)
Skull and cervical vertebra. Position of condyloid fossa shown in red.
Details
Identifiers
Latin	fossa condylaris
TA98	A02.1.04.017
TA2	560
FMA	75310
Anatomical terms of bone

Additional images

• 
  Human skull seen from below. Position of condyloid fossa shown in red.
• 
  Skull and cervical vertebra. Position of condyloid fossa shown in red.
• 
  X-ray of cervical spine (neck) in flexion and extension (bending backwards)

See also

• Occipital condyle
• Atlas

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 131 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

External links

• Illustration (#22)