Ligament: Alar ligament
Membrana tectoria, transverse, and alar ligaments. (Alar ligament labeled at center right.)
Latin	ligamenta alaria
Gray's	subject #74 296
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Dorlands/Elsevier	l_09/12491573

The alar ligaments connect the sides of the dens (on the axis, or the second cervical vertebra) to tubercles on the medial side of the occipital condyle.

They are short, tough, fibrous cords that attach the skull to C2 vertebra (via the dens) and function to check side-to-side movements of the head when it is turned.

The alar ligament is also known as the "check ligament of the odontoid."

[edit] References

• "Ligament, alar." Stedman's Medical Dictionary, 27th ed. (2000). ISBN 0-683-40007-X
• Moore, Keith L., and Arthur F. Dalley. Clinically Oriented Anatomy, 4th ed. (1999). ISBN 0-683-06141-0

v • d • e Joints and ligaments of torso (TA A03.02-04, GA 3.299) Vertebral column Syndesmosis articulations of vertebral bodies: anterior longitudinal ligament · posterior longitudinal ligament articulations of vertebral arches: ligamenta flava · supraspinous ligament (nuchal ligament) · interspinal ligament · intertransverse ligament Synchondrosis intervertebral disc (annulus fibrosus, nucleus pulposus) Synovial joint Atlanto-axial (lat + med) capsule · atlantoaxial ligaments (anterior, posterior) · Cruciate ligament of atlas (Transverse ligament of atlas) Alar ligament · Apical ligament of dens · Tectorial membrane of atlanto-axial joint Zygapophysial no ligaments Lumbosacral iliolumbar ligament Sacrococcygeal anterior sacrococcygeal ligament · posterior sacrococcygeal ligament Thorax Costovertebral articulation of head of rib: radiate ligament · interarticular ligament costotransverse: Lumbocostal ligament Sternocostal interarticular sternocostal ligament · radiate sternocostal ligaments · costoxiphoid ligaments Interchondral no ligaments Costochondral no ligaments Pelvis Syndesmoses of pelvic girdle Obturator membrane · Obturator canal Pubic symphysis superior pubic ligament · inferior pubic ligament Sacroiliac anterior sacroiliac ligament · posterior sacroiliac ligament · interosseous sacroiliac ligament ligaments connecting the sacrum and ischium: sacrotuberous ligament · sacrospinous ligament Greater sciatic foramen · Lesser sciatic foramen