[citation needed] Connective tissue bridges were noted at the atlanto-occipital joint between the rectus capitis posterior minor (RCPm) muscle and the dorsal spinal dura.

The ligamentum nuchae was found to be continuous with the posterior cervical spinal dura and the lateral portion of the occipital bone.

[citation needed] The dura-muscular (myodural) and dura-ligamentous connections in the upper cervical spine and occipital areas may provide anatomic and physiologic answers to the cause of the cervicogenic headache.

[6] This would be expected to put them at risk of injury during whiplash-type distortions when the occipitoatlantal (OA) joint is flexed upon impact.

[citation needed] This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 401 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)