[Characteristics of the topographical anatomical interrelations of the vertebral artery, muscles and connective tissue and neural formations in the area of the atlanto-occipital joint].

A topographical-anatomical investigation has been performed in the atlanto-occipital joint area by means of Pirogov's saw cuts and the histopographic section technique in 28 corpses of fetuses, newborns and mature persons. Peculiarities of interrelations between the vertebral artery, veins, muscles, nerves and the joint elements have been considered at the level of three horizontal and two sagittal planes made in the joint area. The vertebral artery and its venous plexus have been demonstrated to go in the nearest vicinity to the joint, the veins adhere the joint, and the common fascial vascular sheath entwines in the joint capsule. The proper occipital muscles situating here: the superior and inferior oblique muscles and the musculus rectus capitis posterior major press these vessels, as well as the anterior and posterior branches of the first cervical nerve, to the joint. These tight relations of the muscles, vertebral vessels and branches of the first cervical nerve create conditions for compression of the neuro-vascular formations in the atlanto-occipital joint area.