What Causes Occipital Pain? Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatments
The occipital bone is the major bone of the occiput and is a cranial dermal bone (back and lower part of the skull). It has a trapezoidal form and is shaped like a shallow dish. The occipital bone rests on top of the cerebrum's occipital lobes. The foramen magnum is a big oval aperture in the occipital bone at the base of the skull that allows the spinal cord to pass through.
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It is classified as a flat bone, like the rest of the cranial bones. The occipital bone is divided into several segments due to its numerous attachments and characteristics. The basilar section, also known as the basioccipital, runs from front to back, the lateral sections, also known as the exoccipitals, go along the sides of the foramen magnum, and the back is known as the squamous section. The basilar portion is a thick, quadrilateral component located in front of the foramen magnum and aimed at the pharynx. The greatest section of the occipital bone is the squamous portion, which is the curving, enlarged plate behind the foramen magnum.
It has been suggested that "the occipital bone as a whole could be seen as a big vertebra enlarged to support the brain" due to its embryonic origination from the paraxial mesoderm (as opposed to the neural crest, from which many other craniofacial bones are produced).
Suboccipital Muscle
The suboccipital muscles are a collection of muscles that are separated from the occiput by their placement. The muscles of the suboccipital region are found beneath the occipital bone. The two straight muscles (rectus) and the two oblique muscles are paired muscles on the underside of the occipital bone (obliquus).
Occipital Muscle
The occipitalis muscle (also known as the occipital belly) is a skull-covering muscle. According to some sources, the occipital muscle is a separate muscle. It is currently classified as part of the occipitofrontalis muscle, along with the frontalis muscle, by Terminologia Anatomica. The occipitalis muscle is long and slender, with a quadrilateral shape. The epicranial aponeurosis is formed by tendinous fibres from the lateral two-thirds of the superior nuchal line of the occipital bone and the mastoid process of the temporal bone.
The face nerve innervates the occipital muscle, which has the function of pulling the scalp back. The occipital artery supplies blood to the muscles.
How to Relieve Occipital Muscle Pain?
Use your fingertips to apply mild pressure to the base of your skull. This massage can help you relax your stiff muscles and relieve stress. Alternatively, you can lie on your back with a rolled towel under your head and neck. The pressure of the towel can be utilised to deliver a light massage.
Occipital Neuralgia
Occipital Neuralgia is a disorder that occurs when the occipital nerves, which run through the head, are injured or irritated. This creates a severe piercing, throbbing, or shock-like pain in the upper neck, back of the head, or behind the ears, known as occipital headache.
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Causes
Pinched nerves or muscle ttension in the neck can cause occipital neuralgia. A head or neck injury might also cause it. Primary or secondary occipital neuralgia exists. An underlying disease is linked to a subsequent ailment. While many of the causes of occipital neuralgia are possible, many cases can be ascribed to prolonged neck stress or unexplained causes.
Osteoarthritis of the upper cervical spine
Trauma to the greater and/or lesser occipital nerves
Compression of the greater and/or lesser occipital nerves or C2 and/or C3 nerve roots from degenerative cervical spine changes
Cervical disc disease
Tumours affecting the C2 and C3 nerve roots
Gout
Diabetes
Blood vessel inflammation
Infection
Symptoms
Continuous aching, burning, and throbbing, as well as intermittent shocking or shooting pain that starts at the base of the skull and travels to the scalp on one or both sides of the head, are all symptoms of occipital neuralgia. Patients frequently experience pain behind the affected side of the head's eye. Furthermore, even the tiniest movement, such as brushing one's hair, might cause agony. The discomfort is frequently compared to that of a migraine, and some patients may also experience symptoms that are similar to those of migraines and cluster occipital headaches.
Occipital Neuralgia Medication
Occipital neuralgia relief of the pain, you can try the following things:
Apply heat to your neck.
Rest in a quiet room.
Massage tight and painful neck muscles.
Take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs, like naproxen or ibuprofen.
The prescribed medications for the occipital neuralgia include:
Prescription muscle relaxants.
Antiseizure drugs, such as carbamazepine (Tegretol) and gabapentin (Neurontin).
Antidepressants.
Nerve blocks and steroid injections are both options. A nerve block, which your doctor may use to diagnose your disease, can also be used as a short-term treatment. To achieve control of your pain, you may need two to three doses spread out over several weeks. It's not unusual for the condition to resurface at some point, necessitating another round of injections.
Do You Know?
How to Sleep With Occipital Neuralgia Pain?
You should sleep on your back. Use a pillow to support your neck and maintain your head in line with your body (neutral position) If you sleep with your neck bent, the pressure on your nerves will be increased. If you sleep on your side, be sure your pillow does not elevate your head above your shoulders.
FAQs on Occipital Bone: Anatomy, Functions, and Clinical Importance
1. What is the occipital lobe and where is it located in the human brain?
The occipital lobe is one of the four major lobes of the cerebral cortex. As per the CBSE syllabus, it is located at the rearmost portion of the brain, situated behind the parietal and temporal lobes. Its primary responsibility is to serve as the brain's main visual processing centre.
2. What is the primary function of the occipital lobe?
The principal function of the occipital lobe is the interpretation of visual information received from the eyes. It processes raw data related to light, colour, motion, and form, allowing us to perceive and make sense of the world we see. This includes everything from recognising faces to judging distances.
3. What are the key areas within the occipital lobe and what do they do?
The occipital lobe contains several specialised areas. The most important one is the Primary Visual Cortex (V1), which receives the initial visual signals and processes basic elements like lines and edges. Information then flows to associative visual areas (like V2, V3), which assemble these elements into more complex perceptions like shapes and objects.
4. How does the occipital lobe process the visual information it receives from the eyes?
The processing is hierarchical. After signals from the retina travel through the optic nerve to the thalamus, they arrive at the primary visual cortex (V1) in the occipital lobe. Here, the information is broken down into basic components. It is then relayed through two main pathways for higher-level processing:
- The Dorsal Stream ('Where' Pathway): Extends to the parietal lobe to process spatial awareness, location, and movement.
- The Ventral Stream ('What' Pathway): Extends to the temporal lobe to process object recognition, memory, and meaning.
5. What are the potential consequences if the occipital lobe is damaged?
Damage to the occipital lobe can lead to serious visual deficits, even if the eyes are functioning perfectly. Key examples include:
- Cortical Blindness: A complete or partial loss of vision due to brain damage.
- Visual Agnosia: The inability to recognise and identify familiar objects or faces.
- Impaired Colour Perception: Difficulty in distinguishing between different colours.
- Visual Hallucinations or distortions in the visual field.
6. How does the occipital lobe's function contribute to skills like reading?
While reading comprehension involves other brain areas like the temporal and frontal lobes, it begins in the occipital lobe. This lobe is responsible for the crucial first step of visually processing the letters and words on a page. It identifies the shapes and arrangements of characters, which are then sent to other brain regions to be interpreted as language with meaning.
7. Is the occipital lobe only for seeing, or does it influence other functions?
While its primary role is vision, the occipital lobe's output is critical for many other functions. It doesn't process other senses directly, but it provides the essential visual context for them. For instance, it helps the cerebellum with balance and coordination by providing information about your surroundings and is fundamental for creating and retrieving visual memories.
8. What is the difference between the occipital lobe and the occipital bone?
The key difference is their composition and function. The occipital lobe is a part of the brain made of soft neural tissue responsible for processing vision. The occipital bone, on the other hand, is a part of the skull. It is a hard, bony structure that serves a protective role, encasing and shielding the delicate occipital lobe and cerebellum from physical injury.
