atlanto-occipital joint

The atlanto-occipital joint allows the head to nod up and down on the vertebral column.

On the occipital bone, in the atlanto-occipital joint:

The atlanto-occipital joint is a synovial joint.

This potential instability of the atlanto-occipital joint is theorized to predispose people to an "adaptational imbalance" in the head/neck region.

The atlanto-occipital joint (articulation between the atlas and the occipital bone) consists of a pair of condyloid joints.

Data acquisition in regions that are difficult to dissect and access (e.g. atlanto-occipital joints), and in cases of advanced decomposition.

For the most part, the atlanto-occipital joint allows the skull to move up and down, while the atlanto-axial joint allows the upper neck to twist left and right.