In the Fronto-occipital hold, which structure is cradled by one hand?

• A. The occiput
• B. The frontal bone
• C. The mandible
• D. The temple

Answer: (A)

In this hold, contact is made at opposite ends of the cranial axis to monitor and encourage a balanced cranial motion. One hand sits on the back of the head to cradle the occipital region, providing a stable posterior point against which the rest of the skull can move. The other hand rests on the frontal area to support the front of the cranium. This setup—forehead-frontal area with the occipital base—lets you feel the cranial rhythmic impulse and guide gentle releases along the frontal–occipital relationship.

So the structure cradled by one hand is the occiput. The other hand supports the frontal bone. The mandible or temple isn’t the primary contact in this hold, as the technique focuses on the front and back ends of the cranium.