The apical dental ligament runs from the apex of the dens to the basion of the occiput, coursing between the two alar ligaments. It represents a vestigial notochordal remnant and provides minimal structural function.
Acts as a nominal vertical tether between the dens tip and skull base, providing the midline anchor for the alar ligaments. Contributes negligibly to craniovertebral stability compared to the transverse and alar ligaments.
The apical dental ligament is identified during endoscopic or transoral approaches to the craniocervical junction. Its disruption alone does not produce instability. It is used as an intraoperative midline landmark during transoral dens resection for basilar invagination.
The apical dental ligament identified as the midline reference during transoral or endoscopic transnasal odontoidectomy for basilar invagination.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
