Axis (second cervical vertebra, C2) (Axis)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
The second cervical vertebra, defined by the odontoid process (dens) rising from its body and held against the atlas ring by the transverse ligament — the pivot of head rotation at the atlantoaxial joint; its inferior condyles connect to C3 like a typical cervical vertebra.
Clinical notes
Odontoid fracture (three types by fracture line) after a fall on the head can functionally separate head from trunk and endanger the cord; ligamentous inflammation in children causes Grisel rotatory subluxation.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Axis (second cervical vertebra, C2)?
The second cervical vertebra, defined by the odontoid process (dens) rising from its body and held against the atlas ring by the transverse ligament — the pivot of head rotation at the atlantoaxial joint; its inferior condyles connect to C3 like a typical cervical vertebra.
Why is the Axis (second cervical vertebra, C2) clinically important?
Odontoid fracture (three types by fracture line) after a fall on the head can functionally separate head from trunk and endanger the cord; ligamentous inflammation in children causes Grisel rotatory subluxation.
Source & license
Derived from Z-Anatomy (Gauthier Kervyn et al.), CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/); upstream geometry from BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science. license details