The apical dental ligament is a small midline cord from the tip of the dens to the anterior margin of the foramen magnum (basion), representing a notochordal remnant. It lies between the two alar ligaments and in front of the upper band of the cruciform ligament. It provides minimal mechanical contribution to atlantoaxial stability but is a radiological landmark on MRI.
| Origin | Tip (apex) of the dens |
|---|---|
| Insertion | Anterior margin of the foramen magnum (basion) |
| Actions |
|
|---|
Provides a minor midline connection between the dens and the skull base.
The apical dental ligament is identified on sagittal MRI as a small cord at the foramen magnum level. Its disruption combined with alar and transverse ligament injuries indicates complete craniocervical ligamentous instability requiring occipitocervical fusion.
Complete apical, alar, and transverse ligament disruption producing unrestricted craniocervical motion requiring occipitocervical fusion.
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.
