Ligament
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Attachment
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Purpose
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Extra Notes
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Intervertebral disk
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Fibrous encased ring (anulus fibrosus) that encapsulates a gelatinous center (nucleus pulposus)
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Hold the vertebrae together and act as shock absorbers
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There is no disks between cranium and CV1 and between CV1/CV2. Fibers from anulus fibrosus fuse with annular epiphysis (smooth rim of bone located on the superior/inferior surfaces of the vertebral body) of each neighboring vertebrae. Disks are ossified in sacrum and absent in coccyx
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Anterior longitudinal ligament
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Bone tubercle located at midline on the anterior rim of the foramen magnum
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Anterior tubercle of CV1
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Anterior midline surface of vertebral bodies of CV2-SV1 (and IV disk)
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Maintain support and alignment of the vertebral column
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Posterior longitudinal ligament
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Maintain support and alignment of the vertebral column
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Merges with tectorial membrane, which connects CV2 to the clivus of the occipital bone. Ligament is broad in the cervical region and narrows as it descends to the lumbar/sacral region
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Supraspinatous ligament
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Spinous process of CV7 to SV3.
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Provide support to the vertebral column
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Continuous with the ligamentum nuchae.
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Ligamentum nuchae
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Free border is continuous with supraspinatous ligament and extends from ex. occipital protuberance to spinous process of CV7
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Superior border attaches to occipital bone along ex. occipital crest to base of foramen magnum
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Attach border attaches to the base of foramen magnum and to the posterior tubercle of CV1 and spinous processes of CV2-CV7
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“ “
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Interspinous ligament
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Adjacent spinous processes from CV2-SV1
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“ “
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Ligamentum flavum
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Paired set of elastic membranes that attach adjoining lamina between CV1 to SV1
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Attach adjoining lamina.
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Do NOT fuse at midline. Ligamentum flavum is absent between cranium and CV1 and is replaced by a non-elastic membrane (posterior atlantooccipital membrane)
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Anterior and posterior atlantooccipital membane
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Tendinous membrane that encircles region spanning from rim of foramen magnum and the superior surfaces of the anterior and posterior arches of CV1 respectively.
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Provide support to the atlantooccipital joint
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Cruciate ligament
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Strengthens the atlantoaxial joint
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Limits the posterior displacement of dens into spinal canal (area vital for respiration)
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Alar ligament (paired)
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Attach to dens process of CV2 and insert at roughly 100° angle from its partner at the base of the occipital bone
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Prevents over rotation of the head
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Iliolumbar ligament
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Arise from transverse process of LV4-5 and insert on the anterior surface of the iliac crest
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Provide support to the iliolumbar joint
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Sacroiliac ligaments
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Between the SV1-SV4 and the ilium
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Provide support to the sacroiliac joint
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