Adult Apical Ligament of the Dens Lacks Notochordal Tissue: Application to Better Understanding the Origins of Skull Base Chordomas

On the basis of our cadaveric study, the apical ligament does not contain notochord tissue and in adults should not be considered a remnant of this structure. Moreover, it is unlikely that the apical ligament gives rise to chordomas at the craniocervical junction under normal circumstances.