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Medical Definition of Cruciate ligament of the atlas
1. The strong ligament that lies posterior to the dens of the axis holding it against the anterior arch of the atlas; it consists primarily of the transverse ligament of the atlas that forms the cross-bar of the cross and is most important functionally, and longitudinal bands of the cruciform ligament, forming the upright or vertical beams of the cross. Synonym: ligamentum cruciforme atlantis, crucial ligament, cruciate ligament of the atlas, ligamentum cruciatum atlantis. (05 Mar 2000)