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Close–up of a sagittal section through the
lateral masses of the atlas and the axis in a normal cervical spine
of a middle–aged male adult. The upper portion of the slide shows,
in part, the occipito–atlantal articulation. The joints between the
lateral masses of the atlas and the axis have a markedly biconvex
configuration and the anterior and posterior joint spaces are
occupied by meniscoid synovial folds. The vertical black structure
in the lower part of this slide is the vertebral artery. In the
angle between the lateral mass of the atlas and the base of the
lamina the vertebral artery swings medially, snugly following the
superior surface of the lamina. The wall of the artery shows a large
yellow atheromatous plaque. Under the Cl lamina a small yellow
circle is seen. It represents a fideucial reference marker that was
inserted for, 3–D computer graphics reconstruction. At C3 the root
lies immediately behind the artery which then is accommodated in an
osseous channel in the atlas. The osseous tunnel transmitting the
vertebral artery in this specimen is riding high, illustrating that
an atlanto–axial screw inserted through the narrow pars
interarticularis of C2 could jeopardize the artery.
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©2000 Wolfgang Rauschning, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Clinical Anatomy
Academic
University Hospital
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Uppsala, Sweden
Reproduction without permission is prohibited
http://www.akademiska.se/
