Which ligament limits motion in the cervical spine?

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Multiple Choice

Which ligament limits motion in the cervical spine?

The rotation of the head relative to the spine is what this ligament mainly limits. The alar ligaments run from the dens of the axis (C2) to the occipital condyles and wrap around the atlas. When you turn your head, these ligaments become taut and act as checks on that rotation, preventing excessive movement at the Atlanto-Occipital and Atlanto-Axial joints and also limiting lateral bending. In contrast, the other ligaments tend to constrain motion in other directions: the anterior longitudinal ligament resists hyperextension, the posterior longitudinal ligament resists flexion, and the ligamenta flava help limit flexion and guide extension. So, the alar ligaments are the ones specifically limiting rotational motion in the cervical region.

The rotation of the head relative to the spine is what this ligament mainly limits. The alar ligaments run from the dens of the axis (C2) to the occipital condyles and wrap around the atlas. When you turn your head, these ligaments become taut and act as checks on that rotation, preventing excessive movement at the Atlanto-Occipital and Atlanto-Axial joints and also limiting lateral bending. In contrast, the other ligaments tend to constrain motion in other directions: the anterior longitudinal ligament resists hyperextension, the posterior longitudinal ligament resists flexion, and the ligamenta flava help limit flexion and guide extension. So, the alar ligaments are the ones specifically limiting rotational motion in the cervical region.

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