Bony landmark · Head
External occipital protuberance
Protuberantia occipitalis externa
Reviewed by Dr. Ryan Rietz, D.P.T. and Dr. John Breyman, D.C.
The external occipital protuberance is the bump you can find in the midline at the back of the skull, level with the top of the ears. The upper trapezius takes origin here, and the nuchal ligament — the tough sheet that runs down the midline of the back of the neck — anchors to it, so it is the top of the line that holds the head up from behind.
Also known as
- inion
- bump at the back of the head