Final answer:
The costovertebral and costotransverse joints are where the head and the tubercle attach to the vertebral column, permitting movement and flexibility of the rib cage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The joints where the head and the tubercle attach to the vertebral column are known as the costovertebral joints.
The head of the rib articulates with the costal facet of the thoracic vertebrae at the costovertebral (costal = "rib") joint. The tubercle of the rib, however, connects to the thoracic vertebrae at the costotransverse joint, where the rib tubercle meets the transverse process of the thoracic vertebrae. Together, these joints allow for movement and flexibility of the rib cage during breathing and are an essential aspect of the axial skeleton.
In addition to these joints, the atlas or the first cervical vertebra (C1) has a joint with the occipital condyles of the skull known as the atlanto-occipital joint that permits nodding motion of the head, while the C1 (atlas) articulates with the C2 vertebra (axis) at the atlantoaxial joint allowing for rotational movement.