Atlanto-occipital And Atlantoaxial Joints

Atlanto-occipital And Atlantoaxial Joints

Describe the Atlanto-Occipital joints in brief.
Answer.

These are a pair of joints between the superior articular facets of atlas and condyles of the occipital bone.

Atlanto-Occipital joints Classification

Synovial joint of ellipsoid variety.

Atlanto-Occipital joints Articular surfaces

• Condyle of occipital bone, superiorly.
• Superior articular facet on the lateral mass of atlas, inferiorly.
• The articular surfaces are reciprocally curved.

Atlanto-Occipital joints Ligaments

These are

• Fibrous capsule.
• Anterior and posterior atlanto-occipital membranes.

Atlanto-Occipital joints Movements

Nodding movements, i.e. the flexion and extension of the head that occurs when indicating approval; hence, these movements are also called ‘yes movements’.