JOINTS OF THE NECK 273 



Ligaments connecting occi- 

 pital bone with atlas, . 



Anterior longitudinal ligament. 

 Anterior atlanto-occipital membrane. 

 Posterior atlanto-occipital membrane. 

 Transverse part of cruciate ligament with 



superior crus. 

 Capsular. 



{Membrana tectoria. 

 Superior and inferior crus of the cruciate 

 ligament. 

 Alar. 

 Apical. 



Ligamentum Longitudinal e Anterius (Fig. 103). The 

 anterior longitudinal ligament is a continuation upwards of 

 the common anterior longitudinal ligament. Below, it is 

 attached to the anterior aspect of the body of the epi- 

 stropheus, whilst above, it is fixed to the anterior arch of the 

 atlas. It is thick and strong in the middle, but thins off 

 towards the sides. 



Ligamenta Flava. The yellow ligaments fill the interval 

 between the laminae of the epistropheus and the posterior 

 arch of the atlas, to the contiguous margins of which they 

 are attached. They are broader and more membranous than 

 the ligamenta flava at lower levels. 



Capsulse Articulares. The articular capsules are somewhat 

 lax, and are attached to the margins of the articular processes. 



Membrana Atlanto-Occipitalis Anterior (Fig. 103). The 

 anterior occipito-atlantal membrane extends from the upper 

 border of the anterior arch of the atlas to the under surface 

 of the basilar portion of the occipital bone, anterior to the 

 foramen magnum. On each side of the median plane it is 

 thin and membranous, and stretches laterally so as to abut 

 against the atlanto-occipital articular capsule. In the median 

 plane it is strengthened by the upper part of the anterior 

 longitudinal ligament. 



Membrana Atlanto-Occipitalis Posterior. The thin and 

 weak posterior occipito-atlantal membrane occupies the gap 

 between the posterior arch of the atlas and the posterior 

 border of the foramen magnum, to both of which it is 

 attached. It is very firmly connected with the dura mater, 

 and on each side it reaches the atlanto-occipital articular 

 capsule. Each of its lateral borders forms an arch over the 

 groove, posterior to the upper articular facet of the atlas, in 

 which the vertebral artery and the first cervical nerve are 

 lodged. It is not uncommon to find the borders ossified. 



VOL. in 18 



