Craniovertebral ligaments and joints (English)

The dynamic craniovertebral joints are stabilized by a number of ligaments which can be identified within this image. The anterior and posterior atlantooccipital membranes prevent excessive movement at the atlantooccipital joints, and are further stabilized by the anterior and lateral atlantooccipital ligaments. The anterior atlantooccipital ligament arises as a posterior thickening of the anterior atlantooccipital membrane while the lateral atlantooccipital ligaments (not shown) develops as a thickening of the articular capsule of the joint. Connecting the axis to the base of the cranium are the apical ligament of dens, the transverse occipital ligament (not shown), the alar ligaments and the tectorial membrane. The median atlanto-axial joint is stabilized by a series of ligaments known as the anterior atlantoaxial membrane, the anterior atlantodental ligament (not shown) and the cruciform ligament.