Back - Joints and Ligaments

Question 1

Joint of Vertebral Bodies (Intervertebral Joint)

Answer 1

Type: symphysis

• Designed for weight bearing and strength
• Allow a limited amount of gliding

Articulation: articulating surfaces on the bodies of adjacent vertebrate articulating with intervertebral disc between them

Question 2

Anterior Longitudinal Ligament

Answer 2

• Supports joints of vertebral bodies
• Strong, broad, fibrous band that covers and connects anterolateral aspects of vertebral bodies and discs
• Extends from pelvic surface of sacrum to anterior tubercle of C1 and occipital bone anterior to the foramen magnum
• Helps to prevent excessive extension

Question 3

Posterior Longitudinal Ligament

Answer 3

• Runs within vertebral canal along posterior aspect of vertebral bodies from C2 to sacrum
• Serves to limit hyperflexion of vertebral column
• Weaker than ALL

Question 4

Joints of Vertebral Arches (Zygoapophysial Joints)

Answer 4

• Also known as facet joints
• Type: synovial plane joints
• Articulation: superior articulating facets of the vertebrate below articulate with inferior articulating facets of the vertebrate above
• Each joint is surrounded by thin, loose joint-capsule (longer and looser in upper vertebrate, allowing more freedom of movement in cervical region)
• Movement: allow gliding movement b/w adjacent vertebrate
• Supporting ligaments: ligamentum flavum, interspinous ligaments, supraspinous ligaments, the nuchal ligament and intertransverse ligaments

Question 5

Ligamentum Flavum

Answer 5

• Supports joints of vertebral arches
• Binds laminae of adjoining vertebrate together helping to form posterior wall of vertebral column
• Helps to resist separation of laminae by resisting abrupt flexion of vertebral column
• Prevents excessive flexion

Question 6

Supraspinous Ligaments

Answer 6

• Supports joints of vertebral arches
• Runs along tips of adjacent spinous processes
• Hold adjacent spinous processes together
• Serve proprioceptive function (tell brain where joints are in space)
• Limit excessive flexion

Question 7

Interspinous Ligaments

Answer 7

• Supports joints of vertebral arches
• Found between adjacent spinous processes deep to supraspinous ligaments, but are weaker than supraspinous ligaments
• Hold adjacent spinous processes together
• Serve proprioceptive function (tell brain where joints are in space)
• Limit excessive flexion

Question 8

Ligamentum Nuchae

Answer 8

• Supports joints of vertebral arches
• Runs from the external occipital protuberance and posterior border of foramen magnum to spinous process of cervical vertebrate
• Serves as point of muscle attachment in cervical region and helps limit excessive flexion

Question 9

Intertransverse Ligaments

Answer 9

• Supports joints of vertebral arches
• Connect adjacent transverse processes and help to limit excessive flexion
• Also limits excessive flexion (bend to right, then left intertransverse ligaments tighten up, so that the processes don’t move far apart)

Question 10

Atlanto-Occiptal Joints

Answer 10

• Between C1 and cranium

- Synovial joint with no IV disc

Question 11

Atlantoaxial Joint

Answer 11

• Between C1 and C2

- Synovial joint with no IV disc

Question 12

Anterior/Posterior Atlanto-Occiptal Membranes

Answer 12

• Extend from anterior and posterior margins of foramen magnum
• Serve to prevent excessive movement of joints in all directions
• Continuation of ALL and posterior atlanto-occipital membrane takes place of ligamentum flavum b/w C1 and skull

Question 13

Transverse Ligament of Atlas

Answer 13

• Atlantoaxial joints
• Strong band that forms the posterior part of the socket for the dens in the medial atlantoaxial joint (assists in holding the dens in place during rotation)
• Superior and inferior longitudinal bands pass from the transverse ligament of atlas superiorly to the occipital bone and inferiorly to the body of C2
• Together, the transverse ligament of atlas and the longitudinal bands form the CRUCIATE LIGAMENT, which serves to hold the dens in place against the anterior arch of C1 giving the joint extra stability

Question 14

Alar Ligament

Answer 14

• Atlantoaxial joints
• Extends from sides of dens to lateral margins of foramen magnum
• Serves to prevent excessive rotation

Question 15

Tectorial Membrane

Answer 15

• Atlantoaxial joints
• Superior continuation of the PLL
• Runs from body of C2 to internal surface of occipital bone
• Helps prevent excessive flexion