Injuries
A break in the first vertebra is referred to as a Jefferson fracture.
The pharyngeal and retropharyngeal inflammations may cause decalcification of atlas vertebra. This may lead to loosening of attachments of transverse ligament which may eventually yield. This allows the dens of axis to move and exert pressure on spinal cord causing sudden death.
Read more about this topic: Atlas (anatomy)
Famous quotes containing the word injuries:
“Men are not only apt to forget the kindnesses and injuries that have been done them, but which is a great deal more, they hate the persons that have obliged them, and lay aside their resentments against those that have used them ill. The trouble of returning favors and revenging wrongs is a slavery, it seems, which they can very hardly submit to.”
—François, Duc De La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680)
“The only thing of weight that can be said against modern honour is that it is directly opposite to religion. The one bids you bear injuries with patience, the other tells you if you don’t resent them, you are not fit to live.”
—Bernard Mandeville (1670–1733)