Alar ligament
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At the time the article was created Aaron Wong had no recorded disclosures.
View Aaron Wong's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Jordan Southi had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Jordan Southi's current disclosures- Alar ligaments
The alar ligaments join the lateral margins of the sloping upper posterior margin of the dens of C2 to the lateral margins of the foramen magnum (adjacent to the occipital condyles) and lie on either side of the apical ligament. They may be oblique or vertical and are thickest at the occipital attachment. They are paired ligaments that are very strong and limit axial rotation and contralateral lateral flexion of the head.
In conjunction with the transverse band of the cruciform ligament, they are the primary stabilizers of the atlantoaxial joint 2.
The alar ligaments injuries may be associated with traumatic osseous avulsion fractures at their occipital condylar attachments.
Related pathology
References
- 1. McMINN. Lasts Anatomy Regional and Applied. CHURCHILL LIVINGSTONE. (2003) ISBN:B0084AQDG8. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Offiah CE, Day E. The craniocervical junction: embryology, anatomy, biomechanics and imaging in blunt trauma. Insights into imaging. 8 (1): 29-47. doi:10.1007/s13244-016-0530-5 - Pubmed
Incoming Links
- Apical ligament
- Lateral atlantodental instability
- Occipital condyle fracture
- Whiplash syndrome
- Atlanto-axial articulation
- Alar ligament calcification
- Foramen magnum
- Atlanto-occipital dissociation injuries
- Supraodontoid space
- Crowned dens syndrome
- Cruciate ligament of the atlas
- Cervical spine ligaments
- Persistent ossiculum terminale
- Axis (C2)
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