Atlanto-occipital joint

Atlanto-occipital joint
Anterior atlantoöccipital membrane and atlantoaxial ligament.
Posterior atlantoöccipital membrane and atlantoaxial ligament.
Details
Identifiers
Latin	Articulatio atlantooccipitalis
MeSH	A02.835.583.101
TA	A03.1.08.001
FMA	24939
Anatomical terminology []

The atlanto-occipital joint (articulation between the atlas and the occipital bone) consists of a pair of condyloid joints. The atlanto-occipital joint is a synovial joint.

The ligaments connecting the bones are:

The movements permitted in this joint are:

Flexion is produced mainly by the action of the longi capitis and recti capitis anteriores; extension by the recti capitis posteriores major and minor, the obliquus capitis superior, the semispinalis capitis, splenius capitis, sternocleidomastoideus, and upper fibers of the trapezius.

The recti laterales are concerned in the lateral movement, assisted by the trapezius, splenius capitis, semispinalis capitis, and the sternocleidomastoideus of the same side, all acting together.

Occipital bone. Outer surface.

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)