The Craniovertebral Junction:
The Most Important Place You Never Heard About!
By Dr. Tod Cahill, Atlas Orthogonal Chiropractor (DC, BCAO)
The craniovertebral junction (CVJ) comprises the occiput, atlas, and axis. This is the brain body connection. This critical area is the highway for the fluid (Blood, Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)) and neurological traffic. If these structures are misaligned it will disrupt the flow of traffic restricting full proper function. The dysfunction can lead to the development of symptoms (headache, dizziness spinal pain, brain fog, postural distortion… etc.)
Blood is delivered to the brain through four arteries the right (R) and left (L) vertebral arteries that come up through the transverse (lateral part of vertebrae) foramina (opening) of six upper cervical vertebrae exiting at the atlas and entering the foramina magnum of the skull, suppling the posterior brain, inner ear and brain stem. The common carotid artery splints into the (R, L) internal and (R, L) external carotid the former entering to supply the brain and the latter suppling the tissue external to the cranium. The pathway of the internal carotid pass anterior to the atlas supplying the frontal part of brain.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear, colorless liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. While the primary function of CSF is to cushion the brain within the skull and serve as a shock absorber for the central nervous system, CSF also circulates nutrients and chemicals filtered from the blood and removes waste products from the brain. The circulation corresponds to the cardiac cycle, flowing around and into compartments of the brain, descending and ascending the cord.
The neurological change from the brainstem to the cord happens at the occiput-atlas joint. All efferent (outward to body) and afferent (into the brain) information to the brain and body must go through this joint. After this junction point each vertebral level has bilateral nerve exiting suppling the connection to nearby tissues and organ systems with the brain.
If you have been diagnosed with an upper cervical disorder, it’s important to have a professional that is trained and has appropriate equipment for treating these vital structures.
Atlas Orthogonal Doctors are trained to precisely deliver corrections using American Advanced percussive wavy technology. The treatment is non-invasive effective and precise.
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