Ligaments of C-spine

Question 1

ALL

Answer 1

• C2 to sacrum
• Attaches to bodies and loosely to discs along ant aspect of vertebral bodies
• Resist extension of spine
• Prevent increased lordosis

Question 2

PLL

Answer 2

• runs C2-coccyx
• Narrow on bodies, wider at disc
  Attachmnet: centrally to the posterior aspect of vertebral bodies

Question 3

Ligamentum Flavum

Answer 3

• short, thick, segmental ligament
• 80% elastin, 20% collagen
  Attachment: joins adjacent lamina
• reinforces anterior joint capsules of facet joints
• resists FB, restore flexed spine to extended position

Question 4

Interspinous ligaments

Answer 4

• adjacent SPS throughout their lengths
• anteriorly splits into 2 structures, posteriorly joins as one
• limit FB
• poorly developed in c-spine

Question 5

Supraspinous ligament

Answer 5

• becomes ligament nuchae at C7
• Aligned vertically to the tips of SP, bridging the interspinous gap
• Resists FB

Question 6

Intertransverse Ligaments

Answer 6

Attachments:
- Segmentally to adjacent TPs
- Most highly developed in T-spine
- Considered by some to be a membrane
Function:
- Limit contralateral SB

Question 7

Anterior atlantoaxial membrane

Answer 7

• Resist upper cervical backward nodding
  Attachment:
• Ant arch of C1 to anterior margin of foramen magnum
• Continuation of ALL

Question 8

Tectorial Membrane

Answer 8

Attachments:

• Post aspect of the body of C2 to ant internal surface of occipital bone (foramen magnum)
• covers the transverse cervical and alar ligaments
• Resists upper cervical forward nodding

Question 9

Posterior Atlantoaxial

Answer 9

Attachments:

• Post arch of C1 to anterior margin of foramen magnum
• Resist sub cranial forward nodding

Question 10

Alar ligaments

Answer 10

Attachments: Paired ligament attaching the superolateral aspects of the dens to lateral margins of the foramen magnum
Functions:
- Resist distractions of C1/C2 and O/C1
- Resist contralateral rotation
- Resist lateral movements

Question 11

Apical Ligament

Answer 11

Attachment:
Tip of the dens to the occiput, deep to the cruciform ligament
- Resist O-C1 distraction

Question 12

Parts of a intervertebral disc

Answer 12

• Neurovascular capsule
• Outer annulus
• Inner annulus
• Cartilaginous endplate
• Nucleus pulposus