Anterior Longitudinal Ligament (ALL)
- blends with anterior atlanto-occipital membrane
- runs down anterior aspect of vertebral bodies
Posterior Longitudinal Ligaments (PLL)
- Continous/becomes tectorial membrane
- runs within vertebral canal on posterior aspect of vertebral bodies
Ligamentum flavum
- yellowish color due to elasticity in it
- between adjacent lamina
Tecorial Membrane attachements
-Attaches from posterior surface of axial body to anterior margin of foramen magnum
Tectorial membrane function
supports atlanto-occipital & atalnto-axial joints
Anterior atlanto-occipital membrane attachments
from anterior arch of atlas to adjacent occiptial bone
Anterior atlanto-occipital membrane function
supports atlanto-occipital joints & helps to limit extension of the head
Alar attachements
from dens to medial aspect of the occipital condyles
Alar function
limits rotation of the median atlanto-axial joint
Transverse (cruciate) of atlas attachments
from lateral mass to lateral mass of atlas
Transverse (cruciate) of atlas function
maintains articulation between dens and anterior arch of the atlas
Nuchal ligament attachments
from C7 spinous process to external occipital protuberance with slips to intervening spinous process
-becomes supraspinous ligament
Nuchal ligament function
attachment for cervical muscles
Ligaments of the neck
- Nuchal ligament
- Transverse (Cruciate) of atlas
- Tectorial membrane
- Alar ligament
- Anterior atlanto-occpital membrane
Ligaments of the spine
- ALL (anterior longitudinal ligament)
- PLL (posterior longitudinal ligament)
- Ligamentum flavum
Lateral temporomandibular ligament attachments
from zygomatic process of temporal bone to mandibular neck
Lateral temporomandibular lig function
supports joint capsule in maintaining articulation, & helps to limit depression & retraction
Sphenomandibular attachements
from spine of sphenoid to lingula
sphenomandibular function
a check ligament to prevent excessive depression
Stylomandibular lig attachments
from styloid process to angle of the mandible
stylomandibular lig function
taut during moderate opening
Atlanto-occipital (AO) joint
synovial: ellipsoidal
median atlanto-axial (AA) joint
synovial: pivot
lateral atlanto-axial joint
synovial: plane or gliding
Zygopophysial (facet) joint
synovial: plane or gliding
Upper compartment of temporomandibular joint
synovial: plane or gliding
Lower compartment of temporomandibular joint
synovial: hinge or ginglymus
Intervertebral joint
symphysis