occipitális

Occipitális is the Hungarian adjective meaning occipital in English, used to describe structures at the back of the head. In anatomy it commonly refers to two related contexts: the occipital bone, which forms the posterior and base of the skull, and the occipital lobe of the cerebrum, the brain region responsible for visual processing. The term derives from Latin occipitālis, from occiput, the back of the head.

The occipital bone is a curved cranial bone at the posterior skull, contributing to its base. It comprises the squamous part at the back, the basilar part at the skull base, and lateral portions bearing the occipital condyles that articulate with the atlas. The foramen magnum, through which the brainstem and meninges pass, is a defining feature. The bone also contains openings such as the hypoglossal canal and forms the posterior cranial fossa with the temporal and sphenoid bones. It articulates with the parietal, temporal, and sphenoid bones.

The occipital lobe is the rearmost part of the cerebral cortex. It houses the primary visual cortex (calcarine cortex) and adjacent visual association areas. Visual information reaches the occipital lobe from the retina via the lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus. The lobe is mainly supplied by the posterior cerebral arteries. Functions include processing of basic visual attributes such as color, light, motion, and spatial form. Damage to one occipital lobe can cause visual field defects; bilateral injury may result in cortical blindness.

Development and clinical notes: The occipital bone forms by intramembranous and endochondral ossification from mesenchymal tissue during fetal development. The occipital region of the skull and the occipital lobe of the brain are commonly discussed in radiology, neurology, and anatomy due to their roles in protection of the brain and in vision, respectively.