Nuchal lines

Bone: Nuchal lines
Occipital bone. Outer surface.
Side view of head, showing surface relations of bones. (Superior and median lines visible at bottom right.)
Gray's	subject #31 130

The nuchal lines are four curved lines on the external surface of the occipital bone:

• The upper, often faintly marked, is named the highest nuchal line, and to it the galea aponeurotica is attached.

• Below the highest nuchal line is the superior nuchal line. To it is attached the Sternocleidomastoid muscle, Occipitalis muscle, and Splenius capitis muscle, and the trapezius muscle.

• From the external occipital protuberance a ridge or crest, the median nuchal line, often faintly marked, descends to the foramen magnum, and affords attachment to the ligamentum nuchæ.

• Running from the middle of this line is the inferior nuchal line. Attached are the Obliquus capitis superior muscle, Rectus capitis posterior major muscle, and Rectus capitis posterior minor muscle.

Additional images

Posterior view of superior nuchal line (labeled in red) and muscles connecting to it.

Base of skull. Inferior surface.

External links

• Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator, at Elsevier 34257.000-1

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated.