What is the craniocervical junction?
The craniocervical junction consists of the bone that forms the base of the skull (occipital bone) and the first two bones in the spine (which are in the neck): the atlas and axis.
What is a Craniovertebral Junction?
THE craniovertebral junction (CVJ)—defined as the. occiput, atlas, and axis—is a complex area that houses vital neural and vascular structures while achieving the most mobility of any segment within the spine. 63 It represents the transition between the brain and cervical spine.
What are Craniovertebral junction anomalies?
Craniocervical junction abnormalities are congenital or acquired abnormalities of the occipital bone, foramen magnum, or first two cervical vertebrae that decrease the space for the lower brain stem and cervical cord.
What does craniocervical instability feel like?
Symptoms of craniocervical instability include occipital headache, neck pain and neurological abnormalities such as numbness, motor weakness, dizziness, and gait instability. Patients sometimes describe the feeling that their head is too heavy for their neck to support (“bobble-head”).
What movement does the atlanto occipital joint allow?
neck flexion
The atlas and the occipital bone form the atlanto-occipital joint, which allows neck flexion. When you nod your head as if to say “yes,” that is neck flexion. The atlas and axis form the atlanto-axial joint, which allows head rotation.
What is CV junction in pregnancy?
The craniovertebral junction (CVJ) comprises the occiput, atlas, and axis and is visible in most magnetic resonance (MR) imaging studies of the brain.
Do muscle knots block blood flow?
When contracted muscles knot up in your neck, they reduce blood and oxygen circulation to your brain. Your brain uses almost one fourth of your body’s blood supply at any given time, so when the blood vessels to your head are constricted, you feel it.
Where is the craniocervical junction in the spine?
Surgery is sometimes needed. The craniocervical junction consists of the bone that forms the base of the skull (occipital bone) and the first two bones in the spine (which are in the neck): the atlas and axis.
How does craniocervical junction disorder affect your eyes?
Craniocervical Junction Disorder. Pressure on parts of the brain or cranial nerves (which connect the brain directly to various parts of the head, neck and trunk) can affect eye movements. People may have double vision or be unable to move their eyes in certain directions, or the eyes may move involuntarily.
How is compression of the craniocervical junction treated?
If neural structures are compressed, treatment consists of reduction (traction or changes in head position to realign the craniocervical junction and thus relieve neural compression). After reduction, the head and neck are immobilized. Acute or suddenly progressive spinal cord compression requires emergency reduction.
Which is the most common cause of cervical spine dislocation?
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA, the most common disease cause) and Paget disease of the cervical spine can cause atlantoaxial dislocation or subluxation, basilar invagination, or platybasia. Metastatic tumors that affect bone can cause atlantoaxial dislocation or subluxation.
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