Spine Ligaments

Question 1

Anterior longitudinal ligament function

Answer 1

Limits extension

Reinforces anterolateral portion of annulus fibrosis and anterior aspect of IV joints

Question 2

Anterior longitudinal ligament region

Answer 2

C2 to sacrum. Well developed in cervical, lower thoracic, and lumbar regions

Question 3

Anterior atlantoaxial ligament function

Answer 3

Limits extension. Continuation of the anterior longitudinal ligament

Question 4

Anterior atlantoaxial ligament region

Answer 4

C2 to occipital bone

Question 5

Posterior longitudinal ligament function

Answer 5

Limits forward flexion

Reinforces posterior portion of anulus fibrosis

Question 6

Posterior longitudinal ligament region

Answer 6

C2 to sacrum. Broad in cervical and thoracic region and narrow in lumbar region.

Question 7

Tectorial membrane function

Answer 7

Limits forward flexion. Continuation of posterior longitudinal ligament.

Question 8

Tectorial membrane region

Answer 8

C2 to occipital bone

Question 9

Ligamentum flavum function

Answer 9

Limits forward flexion esp in lumbar area where it resists separation of laminate

Question 10

Ligamentum flavum region

Answer 10

C2 to sacrum. Thin, broad, and long in cervical and thoracic region and thickest in lumbar region

Question 11

Posterior atlantoaxial ligament function

Answer 11

Limits flexion. Continuation of the Ligamentum flavum

Question 12

Posterior atlantoaxial ligament region

Answer 12

C1 to C12

Question 13

Supraspinous ligaments function

Answer 13

Limits forward flexion

Question 14

Supraspinous ligaments region

Answer 14

C7-L3/L4. Weak in lumbar region

Question 15

Ligamentum nuchae function

Answer 15

Limits forward flexion

Question 16

Ligamentum nuchae region

Answer 16

Occipital protuberance to C7

Question 17

Interspinous ligaments function

Answer 17

Limits forward flexion

Question 18

Interspinous ligaments region

Answer 18

Primarily in lumbar region

Question 19

Intertransverse ligaments function

Answer 19

Limit contralaterally lateral flexion

Question 20

Inter transverse ligaments region

Answer 20

Primarily in lumbar region

Question 21

Alar ligaments function

Answer 21

Limit rotation of the head to ipsilaterally side and lateral flexion to the contralaterally side

Question 22

Alar ligaments region

Answer 22

C1 and C2

Question 23

Iliolumbar ligament function

Answer 23

Resists anterior sliding of L5 and S1

Question 24

Iliolumbar ligament region

Answer 24

Lower lumbar region

Question 25

Zygapophyseal joint capsules function

Answer 25

Resists forward flexion and axial rotation

Question 26

Zygapophyseal joint capsules region

Answer 26

Strongest at cervicothoracic junction and in the thoracolumbar region

Question 27

Annulus fibrosis function

Answer 27

Resists distraction, translation, and rotation of vertebral bodies