# Osseous bridging of the condylar fossa: report of a rare anatomical variation at the outer skull base

## TL;DR

A rare anatomical variation involving an osseous bridge over the condylar fossa was discovered in a human skull, potentially impacting vascular and neurological functions.

## Contribution

The paper reports a previously undescribed anatomical variation at the outer skull base involving an osseous bridge.

## Key findings

- An accessory osseous process was found on both sides of the foramen magnum, forming a complete bridge on the left.
- The structure is explained by the partial persistence of the Proatlas, a primordial vertebra.
- The bridge may affect the V3-Segment of the vertebral artery and its nerves, influencing diagnosis and treatment.

## Abstract

The topic of osseous variations of the craniocervical junction is a complex morphological and embryological chapter of human anatomy, with a possible impact on neurogical and vascular functionality in this morphological variable region.

An until now undescribed anatomical variation of the exoccipital part of the occipital bone has been observed after maceration at the outer skull base of a West-European 68-year-old male body donor.

On both sites of the foramen magnum accessory osseous processes were observed that arise from the jugular process and point towards the lateral margin of the foramen magnum. On the left site this process forms a full arc that bridges the condylar fossa completely.

The observed osseous bridge over the condylar fossa has not been reported on before and can be explained by the partial persistence of a primordial vertebra between atlas and occipital bone: the Proatlas. The resulting accessory structure may affect due to its topographic conditions the V3-Segment of the vertebral artery and its accompanying nerves, and thus, play a role in diagnosis and therapy of vascular and/or neurological symptoms of head and neck.