The Arterial Supply of the Odontoid Process of the Axis

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Abstract
A study has been carried out of the arterial supply of the odontoid process of the axis. Among the arterial sources there are paired anterior and posterior ascending arteries arising from the vertebral artery. Arteries penetrate into the odontoid process at its base from both the anterior and posterior ascending arteries. A transverse arterial arcade is formed above its top by the anastomosing anterior and posterior ascending arteries. In this investigation it was demonstrated that a branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery (from the external carotid artery) joined this arcade after passing through the canalis hypoglossi of the occipital condyle. Moreover, there were inferior and superior horizontal arteries apparently coming from the internal carotid artery, which supplied the odontoid process. It was shown that the superior horizontal arteries penetrated the anterior atlanto-occipital membrane and ran across to the supraodontoid arterial arcade. There were also arteries which reached into the odontoid process via the accessory and apical ligaments. Vessels described—but not demonstrated—to reach the odontoid process via the alar ligaments could not be observed in this investigation. It was shown that inside the odontoid process the arteries formed a rich anastomosing network. The odontoid process of the axis is thus in the centre of a dense arterial network.

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