Section of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital, Birmingham, Alabama 35233, USA.
Neurosurgery. 2010 Mar;66(3 Suppl Operative):1-3; discussion 3. doi: 10.1227/01.NEU.0000349213.09505.ED.
Knowledge of the anatomy of ligaments that bind the craniocervical junction is important for treating patients with lesions of this region. Although the anatomy and function of these ligaments have been well described, those of the transverse occipital ligament (TOL) have remained enigmatic.
To describe the anatomy and functions of the transverse occipital ligament.
Via a posterior approach, 9 cadaveric specimens underwent dissection of the craniocervical junction with special attention to the presence and anatomy of the TOL.
The TOL was identified in 77.8% of the specimens. The ligament was found to be rectangular with fibers running horizontally between the lateral aspects of the foramen magnum. The attachment of each ligament near the occipital condyle was consistent, and each ligament was found superior to the transverse portion of the cruciform ligament and inserted just posterior to the lateral attachment sites of the alar ligaments. The average width, length, and thickness of the TOL was 0.34, 1.94, and 0.13 cm, respectively. The TOL in some specimens also had connections to the alar and transverse ligaments.
The TOL was found in the majority of our specimens. The possible functions of this ligament when attached to the alar ligaments include providing additional support to these structures in stabilizing lateral bending, flexion, and axial rotation of the head. Knowledge of this ligament may aid in further understanding craniocervical stability and help in differentiating normal from pathology via imaging modalities.
了解连接颅颈交界区的韧带解剖结构对于治疗该区域病变的患者非常重要。尽管这些韧带的解剖结构和功能已得到很好的描述，但横枕韧带（TOL）的解剖结构仍然是个谜。
描述横枕韧带的解剖结构和功能。
通过后路入路，对 9 具尸体标本的颅颈交界区进行解剖，特别注意 TOL 的存在和解剖结构。
在 77.8%的标本中发现了 TOL。该韧带呈长方形，纤维在枕骨大孔的侧面之间水平走行。每条韧带在枕骨髁附近的附着点是一致的，每条韧带都位于十字韧带的横部上方，并插入翼状韧带的外侧附着点的后方。TOL 的平均宽度、长度和厚度分别为 0.34cm、1.94cm 和 0.13cm。在一些标本中，TOL 还与翼状韧带和横韧带相连。
在我们的大多数标本中都发现了 TOL。当与翼状韧带相连时，该韧带的可能功能包括为这些结构提供额外的支撑，以稳定头部的侧向弯曲、屈曲和轴向旋转。了解这条韧带可以帮助进一步理解颅颈稳定性，并通过影像学手段帮助区分正常和病理。
