suboccipital

[ suhb-ok-sip-i-tl ]

adjective

1. situated below the occipital bone or the occipital lobe of the brain.

Word History and Origins

Origin of suboccipital¹

1725–35; < New Latin suboccipitālis; sub-, occipital

Example Sentences

The forward head posture of staring at screens all day, whether you are sitting or standing at a desk, causes the tiny but mighty suboccipital muscles to shorten and tighten, which can lead to chronic headaches.

From Washington Post

Suboccipital, sub-ok-sip′i-tal, adj. situated behind the occiput, or on the under surface of the occipital lobe of the brain.

From Project Gutenberg

William Thomas Andrews was a dwarf seventeen years old, whose head measured in circumference 35 inches; from one external auditory meatus to another, 27 1/4 inches; from the chin over the cranial summit to the suboccipital protuberance, 37 1/2 inches; the distance from the chin to the pubes was 20 inches; and from the pubes to the soles of the feet, 16; he was a monorchid.

From Project Gutenberg