Anatomy II: Lecture 16: Subocciptial Triangle Joints of Head and Neck

Question 1

What are the bony articulations of the occipital bone?

Answer 1

Occipital condyles

Question 2

What are the bony articulations of the Atlas?

Answer 2

Posterior tubercle
Posterior Arch
Anterior Arch
Transverse process with foramina 
Lateral masses (Articulation with occipital condyles and with the axis)

Question 3

What is the first cervical vertebra referred to as?

Answer 3

The atlas

Question 4

What are the bony articulations of the axis?

Answer 4

Dens (odontoid process)
Spinous process
Transverse processes with foramina

Question 5

What two ligaments run along the posterior and anterior surfaces of the centra of the vertebral column?

Answer 5

The posterior longitudinal ligament and the anterior longitudinal ligament

Question 6

What runs along the vertebral spinous process the entire length of the vertebral column?

Answer 6

The supraspinous ligament

Question 7

What is segmented and extends along the roof of the vertebral canal, running from lamina to lamina?

Answer 7

The ligamentum flavum

Question 8

What are the ligaments of the cervical and craniovertebral ligaments?

Answer 8

Apical ligament
Alar ligaments
Cruciate ligaments
Tectorial membrane

Question 9

The three synovial joints of the cervical and craniovertebral joints are

Answer 9

Three synovial joints:

• With no intervertebral discs
• Between dens and anterior arch of the atlas
• Between lateral masses of atlas and axis (x2)

Question 10

What is the AOM?

Answer 10

Anterior atlantooccipital Membrane

Formed by the anterior longitudinal ligament extending from the tubercle of the anterior arch of the atlas to the base of the skull just anterior to the anterior rim of the foramen magnum

Question 11

What is the membrane tectoria

Answer 11

Formed by the posterior longitudinal ligament extending all the way through the foramen and attaching to the posterior rim of the foramen magnum

Question 12

What makes the posterior atlantooccipital membrane?

Answer 12

The ligamentum flavum segment that extends from the atals to the anterior rim of the foramen magnum

Question 13

Where are the alar ligaments?

Answer 13

They are the ligaments that cross the inner sections of the vertebral column
See slide 14

Question 14

What forms the floor of the spinal canal into the foramen magnum?

Answer 14

Membrana tectoria

Question 15

What muscles are in the suboccipital triangle?

Answer 15

Obliquus capitis superior
Obliquus capitis inferior
Rectus capitis posterior major
Rectus capitis posterior minor

Question 16

What is the weak extensor of the neck?

Answer 16

Obliquus capitis superior

Question 17

What is the strong rotator of the atlas?

Answer 17

Obliquus capitis inferior

Question 18

What muscle is an extension of the vertebral column?

Answer 18

Rectus capitis posterior major

Rectus capitis posterior minor

Question 19

What is the floor of the suboccipital triangle?

Answer 19

Posterior atlanto-occipital membrane

Posterior AOM

Question 20

What is the roof of the suboccipital triangle?

Answer 20

Semispinalis capitis muscle

Question 21

What is contained in the suboccipital triangle?

Answer 21

Suboccipital nerve
Greater occipital nerve
Third occipital nerve
Vertebral artery

Question 22

What is motor to muscles of the suboccipital triangle?

Answer 22

Suboccipital nerve

Question 23

What is sensory to the muscles of the suboccipital triangle?

Answer 23

Greater occipital nerve

Question 24

What does the vertebral artery pass through in the first 6 cervical vertebrae?

Answer 24

The transverse foramina