Atlas (C1)

Looks like

The top vertebra, a ring of bone without a body, supporting the skull.

What it does

Lets the head nod yes on its two joint surfaces.

Keeping it well

Breaks from diving into shallow water or heavy head impact; neck pain after such an injury needs immobilisation and a scan.

Related conditions

• Acromegaly
• Fractures
• Fragility fracture
• Frailty & falls in older age
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Neck pain and cervical spondylosis
• Osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease)
• Osteomalacia & rickets
• Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
• Osteoporosis
• Paget's disease of bone
• Sarcoma
• Vitamin B1, C and other deficiencies
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Whiplash
• Wry neck (torticollis)