From the Research
The structures attached to the atlas include the transverse ligament, which is the most relevant and well-documented attachment, playing a crucial role in preventing spinal cord compression by holding the dens of the axis in place. The atlas (C1 vertebra) has several important structures attached to it, including ligaments and muscles that provide stability and enable head movement.
- The transverse ligament is a key structure attached to the atlas, as evidenced by a study published in 2020 1, which investigated the frequency of ossification of the transverse ligament of the atlas and its associated findings on cervical spine CT and plain radiography.
- Other structures attached to the atlas include the rectus capitis lateralis muscle, which is one of the muscles that attach to the atlas, providing stability and enabling head movement.
- The ligamentum flavum is also a structure that can be associated with the atlas, although it is more commonly associated with the posterior aspect of the spinal canal, as mentioned in the study published in 2020 1.
- The rectus capitis post major muscle is not typically considered a structure directly attached to the atlas, but rather to the occipital bone and the spinous process of the axis (C2 vertebra). The attachments to the atlas are crucial for head movement and cervical spine stability, and understanding these structures is important for diagnosing and treating conditions affecting the craniocervical junction, as highlighted in a study published in 2010 2 that described the anatomy and potential functional significance of the transverse occipital ligament.