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Joints

Joints of the Head & Neck

  • Head/Face

    • TMJ

  • Neck

    • Atlanto-occipital joint

    • Atlanto-axial joint

 

  • If a muscle acts on a joint that IS covered in this section, then the movement the muscle causes on the respective joint will be stated.

Temperomandibular Joint (TMJ)

 

  • Synovial hinge joint (moves in 3 planes instead of 1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Movements of TMJ:

  • Elevation- anterior temporalis, masseter, medial pterygoid

  • Depression- lateral pterygoid, suprahyoid muscles, infrahyoid muscles

  • Protrusion- masseter, lateral pterygoid, medial pterygoid

  • Retraction- posterior temporalis, masseter

  • Side to side movements- temporalis (of same side), masseter, pterygoids (opposite sides)

Head

Atlanto-occipital Joint

 

  • Synovial condyloid joint (between atlas (C1) and occipital condyles)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Movement of atlanto-occipital joint- Nodding

 

 

Atlanto-axial Joint

 

  • Synovial pivot joint (between atlas (C1) and axis (C2))

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Movements of atlanto-axial joint:

  • Rotation

  • Shaking your head to say no

Neck

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