The Ligamentum condylicum posterius as a precursor structure of the Processus condylicus posterior, another Proatlas‐Manifestation of the human occipital bone

Michael Wolf‐Vollenbröker; Andreas Prescher

doi:10.1111/joa.13444

journal article Apr 12, 2021

The Ligamentum condylicum posterius as a precursor structure of the Processus condylicus posterior, another Proatlas‐Manifestation of the human occipital bone

Michael Wolf‐Vollenbröker Andreas Prescher

Journal of Anatomy Vol. 239 No. 3 pp. 611-621 · Wiley

View at Publisher Save 10.1111/joa.13444

Abstract

AbstractThis article presents the results of a dissection series investigating a previously neglected ligamentous structure attached to the human occipital bone, the Ligamentum condylicum posterius or posterior condylar ligament, and relates these results to the manifestation of a likewise poorly recognized occipital bony variation, the Processus condylicus posterior. The dissection of 50 human cranio‐cervical junctions revealed the existence of the posterior condylar ligament in 98% of all cases, sometimes containing free elongated ossicles and osseous spurs at the insertion points at the occipital bone. In two cases the osseous formation of a Processus condylicus posterior became apparent (4%), which further provided the opportunity to study the behaviour of the ligament in these cases. In this article, we show and discuss that the posterior condylar ligament and osseous structures possibly derive from tissue that originates from the material of the dorsal arch of the Proatlas, a rudimentary vertebra between occipital bone and atlas. For this purpose, the Ponticulus atlantis posterior as another Proatlas‐manifestation, whose origin from the dorsal Proatlas‐arch is widely accepted in literature, is considered. This bony variant was found in 11 specimens (22%) in the present study and further served to classify and interpret the findings of the much rarer Processus condylicus posterior. As a result of this dissection series and a review of literature on this understudied topic, a typology of manifestations of the posterior condylar ligament, Processus condylicus posterior and related structures like free ossicles has been introduced.

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Details

Published: Apr 12, 2021
Vol/Issue: 239(3)
Pages: 611-621
License: View

Authors

M

Michael Wolf‐Vollenbröker

Institute for Molecular and Cellular Anatomy (MOCA) ‐ Prosektur Faculty of Medicine RWTH Aachen Aachen Germany

A

Andreas Prescher

Institute for Molecular and Cellular Anatomy (MOCA) ‐ Prosektur Faculty of Medicine RWTH Aachen Aachen Germany

Cite This Article

Michael Wolf‐Vollenbröker, Andreas Prescher (2021). The Ligamentum condylicum posterius as a precursor structure of the Processus condylicus posterior, another Proatlas‐Manifestation of the human occipital bone. Journal of Anatomy, 239(3), 611-621. https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.13444

The Ligamentum condylicum posterius as a precursor structure of the Processus condylicus posterior, another Proatlas‐Manifestation of the human occipital bone

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