Anterior longitudinal ligament
The anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL) runs along the anterior surface of the vertebral bodies (firmly united to the periosteum) and intervertebral discs (attaching to the anterior annulus). It ascends from the anterosuperior portion of the sacrum inferiorly to the become the anterior atlanto-occipital membrane at the level of the anterior arch of C1 (atlas) 1-6.
Can be divided into three distinct layers 2,3.
- superficial: traverses 3-4 vertebrae
- intermediate: covers 2-3 vertebrae
-
deep
- between individual vertebrae, it either blends into the periosteum or inserts anteriorly
- the first ALL layer is typically affected in DISH 4
Related Radiopaedia articles
Anatomy: Spine
-
osteology
- vertebrae
- spinal canal
- cervical spine
- thoracic spine
- lumbar spine
- sacrum
- coccyx
-
anatomical variants
- vertebral body
- neural arch
- transitional vertebrae
- ossicles
- ossification centers
- intervertebral disk
- articulations
- ligaments
- musculature of the vertebral column
- muscles of the neck
- muscles of the back
-
suboccipital muscle group
- rectus capitis posterior major muscle
- rectus capitis posterior minor muscle
- obliquus capitis superior muscle
- obliquus capitis inferior muscle
- splenius capitis muscle
- splenius cervicis muscle
- erector spinae group
- transversospinalis group
- quadratus lumborum
-
suboccipital muscle group
-
spinal cord
- gross anatomy
-
white matter tracts (white matter)
- anterolateral columns
- lateral columns
-
dorsal columns
- fasiculus gracilis (column of Goll)
- fasiculus cuneatus (column of Burdach)
- grey matter
- nerve root
- spinal meninges and spaces
- functional anatomy
- spinal cord blood supply
- sympathetic chain
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