Ligaments Flashcards
List the main ligaments of the spine
Anterior Longitudinal Ligament (ALL) Posterior Longitudinal Ligament (PLL) Ligamentum Flavum Ligamentum Nuchae Supraspinous Ligament Interspinous Ligament Intertransverse Ligament
Describe attachments and function of ALL
From anterior tubercle of atlas to upper sacrum; bonded to anterior surface of vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs between
Function: Limits spinal extension
Describe attachments and function of PLL
From posterior vertebral body of axis to posterior surface of sacrum; bonded to posterior surfaces of all vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs within the vertebral canal
Function: Limits spinal flexion
Describe attachments of ligamentum flavum
One on each side/vertebra; between laminae of adjacent vertebrae:
Posterior surface of the lamina on the vertebra below to the anterior surface of the lamina of the vertebra above
Function: Limit spinal flexion/ contralateral rotation
Describe attachments and function of ligamentum nuchae
Expansion of supraspinous ligament from C7 to the skull
Triangular, sheet-like structure in the median sagittal plane:
The base of the triangle is attached to the skull, from the external occipital protuberance to the foramen magnum.
The apex is attached to the tip of the spinous process of vertebra C7
The deep side of the triangle is attached to the posterior tubercle of vertebra CI and the spinous processes of the other cervical vertebrae
Function: Limits spinal flexion
Describe attachments and function of supraspinous ligament
Connects and passes along the tips of the vertebral spinous processes from C7 to the sacrum
Function: Limits spinal flexion
Describe the attachments and function of interspinous ligaments
Between adjacent vertebral spinous processes
Blend with the supraspinous ligament posteriorly and the ligamenta flava anteriorly on each side
Function: Limits spinal flexion
Describe attachments and function of intertransverse ligaments
Between adjacent vertebral TPs
Function: Limit side flexion to contralateral side
Describe attachments and function of transverse ligament of atlas
attaching to a small tubercle on the medial side of each lateral mass of the atlas; Thin layer of fibrocartilage on its ant surface for articulation with the dens
Stability to atlanto-axial joint - Limits anterior displacement of atlas on axis
Describe attachments and function of Atlantal cruciform ligament
From transverse ligament a band of superior longitudinal fibres attaches to anterior edge of foramen magnum and inferior longitudinal fibres to posterior body of axis
Limits head on neck flexion
Describe attachments and function of alar ligaments
From postero-lateral aspect of Dens of C2 and extends supero-laterally to insert on to medial aspects of the occiput
Prevent distraction (longitudinal cephalad) of C1 on C2
Limit head on neck Flexion, contralateral rotation, side flexion
Describe attachments and function of apical ligament
Apex of the Dens to the anteroinferior margin of the foramen Magnum
Prevent distraction of CO on C1
Limits head on neck flexion
Describe posterior atlantoaxial and atlanto-occipital membranes
Continuation of ligamentum flavum
Connects the lamina of Axis to posterior arch of atlas as AA then extends from upper border of post arch of atlas to post margin of foramen magnum on base of the skull as AO
Limits Cx and head-neck flexion and rotation
Describe anterior atlantoaxial and atlanto-occipital membranes
Continuation and broadening of the ALL
Attached ant aspect Dens to ant arch of the Atlas as AA then Extends from upper border of ant arch of atlas to ant margin of foramen magnum on base of the skull as AO
Limits Cx and head-neck extension and rotation
Describe attachments and function of tectorial membrane
Continuation of the PLL; superficial to transverse, alar, apical ligaments
Broad sheet extending from posterior aspect body of the axis to the anterior edge of the foramen magnum
Limited Cx and head-neck flexion
