Basilar Process

Description

The normal basilar part of the occipital bone is pictured

Name

• Basilar Process
• Mamillar Process
• Papillar Process

General

• Rare anatomy variant of the occipital bone
• Part of the spectrum of occipital vertebrae

Epidemiology

• Rare variant
• Prevalence reported at 4%

Clinical Presentation

• Typically, an incidental finding
• May cause neck pain and dysfunction at the atlanto occipital joint
• Symptomatic cases are not described in the literature

Radiographic Features

• Small bony protuberance on the inferior surface of the clivus, anterior rim of foramen magnum
• Found between the occipital condyles in a slightly paramedian location
• May articulate with the anterior arch of Atlas
• Can be unilateral or bilateral

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Clinical Significance

• Clinical significance is not well understood or described

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See Also

• Accessory Bones Main
• HEENT Anatomy Main

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