The second cervical vertebra (C2), featuring the odontoid process (dens) around which the atlas rotates to turn the head.
Provides the odontoid pivot (dens) around which the atlas and skull rotate laterally.
Upper cervical spine (C2 vertebra), immediately inferior to the atlas.
Jump directly to connected anatomical structures to compare their locations, functions, and 3D relationships.
Skeletal muscles attach across bones and joints; when muscles contract, they pull on bony landmarks to produce movement and maintain posture.
Cartilage, ligaments, and joint capsules connect bones to one another, stabilize joints, and distribute mechanical loads across the skeleton.
The cranial vault and vertebral column form a protective bony enclosure around the brain and spinal cord.