bakhuvud

Bakhuvud is the Swedish term for the back portion of the head, referring to the occipital region and the structures at the posterior aspect of the skull. In anatomy it is closely associated with the occipital bone (os occipitale), which forms the back and base of the skull and articulates with the parietal bones at the lambdoid suture and with the first cervical vertebra at the occipital condyles. The foramen magnum, a key feature of the skull base, lies at the lower part of the occipital bone and allows passage of the brainstem and spinal cord.

The occipital bone comprises a squamous (posterior) part and a basilar (basilar) part. Important landmarks include the external occipital protuberance (inion) and the superior and inferior nuchal lines, which serve as attachment sites for muscles. The occipital condyles articulate with the atlas (the first cervical vertebra), enabling head movement. The region serves as a site of attachment for several muscles, such as the trapezius, splenius capitis, and the suboccipital muscle group, and is innervated in part by the greater occipital nerve, among others.

Clinically, the bakhuvud region is relevant in discussions of occipital headaches, cervical spine health, and injuries involving the occipital bone or foramen magnum. Variations in skull shape and thickness of the occipital bone can occur among individuals, but the basic anatomy supports protection of the hindbrain, movement of the head, and sensory innervation to the posterior scalp. The term is primarily used in everyday language and in anatomical and clinical contexts to describe this posterior head region.