Craniovertebral ligaments and joints (Latin)

The dynamic juncturae craniovertebrales are stabilized by a number of ligaments which can be identified within this image. The membrana atlantooccipitalis anterior and posterior prevent excessive movement at the articulatio atlantooccipitalis, and are further stabilized by the ligamenta atlantooccipitale anteriores and laterales. The ligamentum atlantooccipitale anterius arises as a posterior thickening of the membrana atlantooccipitalis anterior while the ligamentum atlantooccipitale laterale (not shown) develops as a thickening of the articular capsule of the joint. Connecting the axis to the base of the cranium are the ligamentum apicis dentis, the ligamentum occipitale transversum (not shown), the ligamenta alaria and the membrana tectoria. The articulatio atlantoaxialis mediana is stabilized by a series of ligaments known as membrana atlantoaxialis anterior, ligamentum atlantodentale anterius (not shown) and ligamentum cruciforme.