Joints of the head and trunk

I. Craniovertebrael joints (synovial joints)

1. Atlanto-occipital joint
• articulation between the atlas and the occipital condyle of
occipital bone
• allows the skull to move up and down
2. Atlanto-axial joint
• Articulation of the anterior arch of atlas with the odontoid
process of the axis, and the transverse ligament of the atlas.
• It is a pivot articulation.
2. Atlanto-axial joint
• There are two atlantoaxial joints: median and lateral:
• The median atlantoaxial joint is sometimes considered a double
joint:
– one between the posterior surface of the anterior arch of atlas
and the front of the odontoid process
– one between the anterior surface of the ligament and the back
of the odontoid process
2. Atlanto-axial joint
• The lateral atlantoaxial joint is an gliding joint between the
articular processes of the two bones on either side
• Atlanto-axial joint allows the upper neck to twist left and right.
 Ligaments for craniovertebrael joints
(1) Anterior atlanto-occipital membrane(ligament)
– broad and composed of densely woven fibers, which pass
between the anterior margin of the foramen magnum above,
and the upper border of the anterior arch of the atlas below.
Ligaments for craniovertebrael joints
(2) Posterior atlanto-occipital membrane (ligament)
– a broad but thin membrane. It is connected above to the
posterior margin of the foramen magnum and below to
the upper border of the posterior arch of the atlas.
Ligaments for craniovertebrael joints
(3) Membrana tectoria (occipitoaxial ligaments)
- situated within the vertebral canal and is a strong fibrous
band connected the basilar part of the occipital bone and
the posterior surface of the body of the axis.
 Ligaments for craniovertebrael joints
(4) Cruciform ligament of atlas (cruciate)
• is a cruciate ligament in the neck forming part of the
atlanto-axial joint.
• It consists of the transverse ligament of the atlas, along
with additional fibers above (superior longitudinal band)
and below (inferior longitudinal band).
 Ligaments for craniovertebrael joints
(4) Cruciform ligament of atlas (cruciate)
• Transverse ligament of alas
– a strong, thick ligamentous band that, with the anterior
arch of the atlas, creates a fibro-osseous ring around the
dens of the axis.
 Ligaments for craniovertebrael joints
(5) Alar ligament
-connect the sides of the dens to the medial side of the
occipital condyle.
Functions of Ligaments for craniovertebrael joints :
• STABILIZE JOINT
• PROTECT MEDULLA
• PREVENT EXCESS MOVEMENT
 ③

⑤
 3. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
• A bilateral synovial articulation between the temporal
bone(upper ) and mandible ( lower ).
• There are six main components of the TMJ.
– Mandibular condyles
– Articular surface of the temporal bone
– Articular disc
– Capsule
– Ligaments
– Lateral pterygoid plate
 • The temporomandibular joint(TMJ)
• The articular disc (fibrocartilagenous
tissue) divides each joint into two parts.
– The lower joint compartment formed
by the mandible and the articular disc
is involved in rotational movement—
this is the initial movement of the jaw
when the mouth opens.
– The upper joint compartment formed
by the articular disc and the temporal
bone is involved in translational
movement—this is the secondary
gliding motion of the jaw as it is
opened widely.
Functions of TMJ:
• it is both a hinging Joint and an sliding joint.
• open and close mouth,, biting and chewing. by gliding,g
protrusion,,retraction of mandibleTMJ ork together in
Ligaments associated TMJ

Three ligaments: associated TMJ:

① temporomandibular lig. (major)

② stylomandibular lig.(minor)

③ sphenomandibular. lig.(minor)
TMJ Dislocation
• The TMJ becomes dislocated
when the condyle moves too far.
Then, it can get stuck in front of
the articular tubercle. The
condyle can't move back into
place. This happens most often
when the ligaments that normally
keep the condyle in place are
somewhat loose.
• The surrounding muscles often go
into spasm (痉挛)and hold the
condyle in the dislocated position.
Joints of the trunk
I. The vertebral column
1. Vertebral joints

(1) Joints of vertebral bodies

– Connected by vertebral discs
– lie between adjacent vertebral bodies
– forms a cartilaginous joint to allow
slight movement of the vertebrae
– acts as a ligament to hold the
vertebrae together.
Structure of Intervertebral disc
• an outer annulus fibrosus
• inner nucleus pulposus
Spinal disc herniation (prolapsed disc)
• is a medical condition affecting the spinal column, in which a tear
in fibrous ring (annulus fibrosus) of an intervertebral disc allows
the soft, central portion (nucleus pulposus) to bulge out.
• Tears are almost always postero-lateral
• The disc often presses on a nerve root which also causes pain and
other symptoms.
(2) Joints of vertebral arches
• Zygapophysial joints (synovial
joints & gliding joints )
– a synovial joint between the
superior articular process of
one vertebra and the inferior
articular process of the
vertebra directly above it.
– There are two facet joints in
each spinal motion segment.
– limit movement of the spinal
motion segment.
2.Ligaments
(1) Ligaments associated with
• vertebral bodies
– Anterior longitudinal
ligament
– Posterior longitudinal
ligament
(2) Ligaments associated with
• vertebral arches
– Ligamenta flavum
(between pedicle)
– Interspinal ligament
– Intertransverse ligment
– Supraspinal ligament
(ligamentum nuchae-neck)
II. Thoracic joints
1. Costovertebral joints
1) costovertebral joints
2) costotransverse joints
2. Joints between sternum and ribs
1) Manubriosternal joints
2) Xiphisternal joints
• These two are
synchondroses, with age
they become ossified.
3) Sternocostal joints:
• Rib I: synchondrosis
• Ribs II-VII: synovial joints
(Gliding joints)
4) Intercostal joints:
• Ribs VI-X
• synovial joints
Thoracic Cage

Sternum

True Ribs (1-7)

Costal cartilages

False Ribs (8-10)

Floating Ribs (11-12)

12 thoracic vertebrae
Thoracic cage Two thoracic apertures

• Superior thoracic aperture

– Bounded by T1, 1st ribs,
manubrium

• Inferior thoracic aperture

– Bounded by T12, 11 and
12th ribs, costal
cartilages of ribs 7-10,
xiphisternal joint
3. Movement of thorax
– Human rib cage is a component of the human
respiratory system
– Increase of volume of the thoracic cage - inspiration
– Decrease of volume of the thoracic cage - expiration
4. movements of the vertebral column
– Flexion-foreward
– Extension-backward
– lateral fexion-side bending
– Rotation