Table of Contents
What connects the head to the neck?
C1, the atlas, has no spinous process and articulates with the occipital condyles of the occiput bone of the skull, forming the occipital-atlanto (OA) joint. It connects the skull to the neck, also providing attachment points for some neck muscles.
What is the joint between the skull and the neck?
A craniovertebral joint is exactly what it sounds like: a joint that permits movement between the vertebral column and the skull. The ligaments in the spine support and reinforce the joints between the vertebrae. The atlas and axis in particular work with the ligaments to move the neck.
How is the skull attached to the spine?
The atlas is the topmost vertebra and, with the axis (the vertebra below it), forms the joint connecting the skull and spine. The atlas and axis are specialized to allow a greater range of motion than normal vertebrae. They are responsible for the nodding and rotation movements of the head.
Are there muscles around your skull?
The muscle has a frontal belly and an occipital (near the occipital bone on the posterior part of the skull) belly. In other words, there is a muscle on the forehead (frontalis) and one on the back of the head (occipitalis), but there is no muscle across the top of the head.
How is the neck bone connected to the head bone?
Schnell’s study of the muscle segments and nerves surrounding the “occipito-vertebral gap” in a specimen of the dragonfish Malacosteus niger shows that the gap in this species is formed by a lengthening of the notochord (Nch) rather than a loss of any vertebrae. C1 = centrum of first vertebrae; Oc = occiput (the rear of the skull).
Where does the cervical spine connect to the skull?
The top of the cervical spine connects to the skull, and the bottom connects to the upper back at about shoulder level. As viewed from the side, the cervical spine forms a lordotic curve by gently curving toward the front of the body and then back. The cervical spine performs several crucial roles, including:
What kind of muscles move the head and neck?
The neck muscles, including the sternocleidomastoid and the trapezius, are responsible for the gross motor movement in the muscular system of the head and neck. They move the head in every direction, pulling the skull and jaw towards the shoulders, spine, and scapula. Working in pairs on the left and right sides of the body, these muscles
Where are the nerves located in the head and neck?
Eight spinal nerves branch off from the spinal cord in the neck to form a network of nerves called the cervical plexus. The cervical plexus forms many connections between the brain and the skin and muscles of the head and neck, similar to the cranial nerves.