kids encyclopedia robot

Atlas (anatomy) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Bone: Atlas (anatomy)
Gray86.png
First cervical vertebra, or Atlas

In anatomy, the atlas is the top cervical vertebra (neck bones) of the spine. In anatomy, the atlas is written (C1) for short.

It is named for the Atlas of mythology, because it supports the head in the same way as Atlas held the world on his shoulders.

The atlas connects to a vertebra called the Axis. Together they form the joint connecting the skull to the rest of the spine. The atlas and axis are different in shape from all the other vertebrae. They have more movement. They allow the head to nod and to rotate (turn).

Images for kids

  • Gray86

    Structure of the atlas, the first cervical vertebra

  • Gray308

    Median sagittal section through the occipital bone and first three cervical vertebræ, showing ligamentous attachments

  • Gray104

    The atlas ossifies from three centers

  • Posterior arch defect

    Posterior arch defect on axial CT

  • Atlas (C1) from top animation small

    Shape and position of atlas (shown in red), from above. The skull is shown in semi-transparent.

  • Cervical vertebra 1 animation top

    Atlas from above

  • Gray305

    Posterior atlantoöccipital membrane and atlantoaxial ligament (atlas visible at center)

  • Atlas vertebrae

    Atlas from above

  • Atlante (C1)

    Atlas from above

  • Atlante (C1) inf

    Atlas, inferior surface

  • Atlas The First Cervical Vertebra

    Computer generated 3d model of atlas

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Atlas (hueso) para niños

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Atlas (anatomy) Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.