The processus jugularis is a bony process of the occipital bone. This is located in the brain. The processus jugularis is found in the base of the skull.
What is the processus jugularis?
The processus jugularis is a bony structure of the human skull. The skull is medically referred to as the neurocranium. It is made up of different plates that vary in thickness and shape. All bones are immovably connected to each other. Among them is the os occipitale. This is the so-called occipital bone. The Os occipitale is a skull bone located at the cervical junction of the cranium. It forms the posterior closure of the cranial cavity. The processus jugularis is a bony process associated with the os occipitale. There are several bony processes in the human skull. They are all a structure projecting from the main body. The processus jugularis forms the posterior portion of the foramen jugulare. The foramen jugulare is located in the posterior fossa of the skull. This is referred to as the posterior cranial fossa. The posterior cranial fossa is the most dorsally located depression in the base of the skull. The foramen jugulare is a small opening in the skull through which various nerves and vessels can exit from the inside of the skull to the outside.
Anatomy and structure
The skull of the brain consists of a total of seven individual bones. These are of different shapes. They may have flat or irregular structures. All together, they enclose the brain. Thus, they have an important protective function. The os occipitale is one of the individual bones that form the skull. Its structure is flat. It is located in the posterior lower part of the skull. Its shape is trapezoidal. Together with the os temporale, the os occipitale forms the posterior fossa of the skull. The processus jugularis is the process of the bone. It belongs to the Os occipitale and forms the posterior part of the Foramen jugulare. The foramen jugulare is a small opening at the posterior base of the skull. The base of the skull is called the basis cranii. This is a part of the skull on the inside of which rests the encephalon, the brain. The opening at the base of the skull is used by various nerves and several vessels to pass through the skull. This allows for the supply of different regions within the head as well as other regions outside the skull. Like the rest of the skull, the processus jugularis is made of bone. The structure of human bone is composed of bone cells, bone cartilage, water as well as inorganic bone components.
Function and tasks
The processus jugularis is located in the lateral part of the occipital bone. This is a bone plate that has a quadrangular shape. The process jugularis forms the foramen jugulare. This opening allows various nerves and vessels to pass through. Specifically, these are the glossopharyngeal nerve, the vagus nerve, the accessorius nerve, the internal jugular vein, and the posterior meningeal artery. The glossopharyngeal nerve is IX. Cranial Nerve. It is involved in the processing of taste sensation. The vagus nerve is the X. Cranial nerve. It supplies the pharynx at the head. This has an important function in the swallowing process. The accessorius nerve is the XI cranial nerve. Its failure causes crookedness of the head and elevation weakness of the arm as well as the shoulder. The internal jugular vein is also called the internal jugular vein or the zygomatic vein. Venous blood flows through it. Its course is from the brain to the left side into the brachiocephalic vein. Beyond that, it runs on the right side into the superior vena cava. The posterior meningeal artery is responsible for the intracranial supply of the dura mater. The dura mater is the hard meninges that demarcate the brain from the skull. The processus jugularis serves as the attachment of the rectus capitis lateralis muscle. This is a skeletal muscle of the secondary back musculature. It is classified as part of the neck musculature. Thus, the processus jugularis not only has an important function in supplying all areas of the three cranial nerves.
Diseases
Lesions and discomfort inside the skull can be caused by various diseases. For example, damage can result from inflammation of various areas. Accidents or falls can cause swelling of the brain mass. The same can occur during surgical procedures.Because the shape of the skull leaves no way to contain swelling, areas of the brain are displaced by proliferating tissue structures. This can occur in tumor diseases. The shifting of the areas causes nerves, vessels or other tissue to become trapped. As a result, these can cause functional impairment or even hemorrhage. If the brain areas are no longer sufficiently supplied, functional as well as vegetative deficits may occur. The evaluation of the stimuli received can no longer take place. This can affect all sensory systems. In addition, disorders of consciousness may occur. Swelling in the posterior region of the skull can lead to the opening of the skull being closed. Because the processus jugularis is not flexible due to its bony structure, the size of the opening cannot be changed. The functionality of the jugular foramen is thus limited in cases of cerebral swelling. Thus, nerves and vessels can no longer exit the skull. The areas innervated by the IXth, Xth as well as XIth cranial nerves can no longer be supplied. In addition, the rectus capitis lateralis muscle can no longer perform its activity. As a result, the area of the neck causes pain.
