Relevant Anatomy of the Craniovertebral Junction

Objectives. Anatomy of the craniovertebral junction (CVJ) includes the foramen magnum located in the occipital bone, atlas (C1), and axis (C2) united by ligaments and muscles, the lower cranial and upper spinal nerves, the caudal brainstem and rostral spinal cord, the vertebral arteries and their branches, the venous drainages through the jugular vein, and the vertebral plexus. The objective of this chapter is to provide a 360° description of the relevant microsurgical and endoscopic anatomy of the CVJ.