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Atlantooccipital joint, atlantoaxial joint and cervical vertebrae dissected from behind

Tectorial membrane; atlantooccipital joint

Image #217-7

KEYWORDS: Cervical region, Vertebral column.

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Atlantooccipital joint, atlantoaxial joint and cervical vertebrae dissected from behind

Tectorial membrane; atlantooccipital joint

The brain and spinal cord have been removed and the dura mater has been cut away from the left half of the specimen. The occipital bone had been cut across on the left side slightly posterior to the occipital condyle. The left atlantooccipital joint (4) has been opened. On the right side a flap of dura (15) has been reflected to expose the posterior longitudinal ligament (18). The latter has been excised to the left of the midline to reveal the tectorial membrane (20).

1 .	Left pointer: Posterior semicircular canal (opened) Right pointer: Vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII)
2 .	Left pointer: Transverse sinus (sigmoid portion) Right pointer: Internal jugular vein (in jugular foramen)
3 .	Condylar emissary vein within condylar canal
4 .	Atlanto-occipital joint
5 .	Atlanto-occipital joint capsule
6 .	Vertebral artery (cut across)
7 .	Posterior arch of atlas
8 .	Obliquus capitis inferior muscle (cut across)
9 .	Posterior external vertebral venous plexus
10 .	Dorsal branch cervical nerve II
11 .	Arch of axis
12 .	Dorsal branch cervical nerve III
13 .	Longissimus capitis muscle
14 .	Petrosal part temporal bone
15 .	Dura mater (reflected)
16 .	Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
17 .	Vagus nerve (X)
18 .	Posterior longitudinal ligament (left half resected, cut end visible at upper pointer)
19 .	Roots of hypoglossal nerve (XII)
20 .	Tectorial membrane
21 .	Roots of cervical nerve II
22 .	Splenius capitis muscle
23 .	Spinal branch vertebral artery
24 .	Semispinalis capitis muscle
25 .	Anterior internal vertebral venous plexus