Ligamentum nuchae
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The ligamentum nuchae is a large median ligament composed of tendons and fascia located between the posterior muscles of the neck. It covers the spines of C1 to C6 vertebrae. It is a superior and posterior extension of the supraspinous ligament. It rises from the spinous process of C7 to the inion of the occipital bone, attaching all the posterierposterior tips of the spinous processes in between. It is thick and strong, limiting hyperflexion of the neck.
In quadriped animals, it is very strong and functions in keeping the neck and head of the animal up.
The ligamentum nuchae consists of the dorsal raphe and medial septal parts. The dorsal raphe attaches to muscles while the medial septum does not.
Dorsal raphe
The dorsal raphe is superficial to the posterior midline of the neck. It extends from the occipital protuberance to the spinous process of the C7 vertebra. The superior portion consists of medial fibres from the cervical trapezius. The inferior portion consists of interweaving tendons from splenius capitis and rhomboid minor.
Medial septum
The medial septum extends from the ventral surface of the dorsal raphe. The medial septum isolates the semispinalis capitis ventrally and laterally. Thus, the semispinalis cervicis, multifidus and opposite semispinalis capitis remain separate.
The medial septum runs deep into the vertebral column. It reaches depths as far as the ligamentum flavum. The medial septum blends into the posterior atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial membranes. It is attached to the posterior dura mater along these membranes.
-<p>The <strong>ligamentum nuchae</strong> is a large median ligament composed of tendons and fascia located between the posterior muscles of the neck. It covers the spines of <a href="/articles/atlas-c1">C1</a> to <a href="/articles/typical-cervical-vertebrae">C6 vertebrae</a>. It is a superior and posterior extension of the <a href="/articles/supraspinous-ligament">supraspinous ligament</a>. It rises from the spinous process of C7 to the <a href="/articles/inion">inion</a> of the <a href="/articles/occipital-bone">occipital bone</a>, attaching all the posterier tips of the spinous processes in between. It is thick and strong, limiting hyperflexion of the neck.</p><p>In quadriped animals, it is very strong and functions in keeping the neck and head of the animal up.</p><p>The ligamentum nuchae consists of the <strong>dorsal raphe </strong>and <strong>medial septal</strong> parts. The dorsal raphe attaches to muscles while the medial septum does not.</p><h4>Dorsal raphe</h4><p>The dorsal raphe is superficial to the posterior midline of the neck. It extends from the <a href="/articles/inion">occipital protuberance</a> to the spinous process of the <a href="/articles/vertebra-prominens-c7">C7 vertebra</a>. The superior portion consists of medial fibres from the cervical <a href="/articles/trapezius-muscle">trapezius</a>. The inferior portion consists of interweaving tendons from <a href="/articles/splenius-capitis">splenius capitis</a> and <a href="/articles/rhomboid-minor">rhomboid minor</a>.</p><h4>Medial septum</h4><p>The medial septum extends from the ventral surface of the dorsal raphe. The medial septum isolates the <a href="/articles/semispinalis-capitis">semispinalis capitis</a> ventrally and laterally. Thus, the <a href="/articles/semispinalis-cervicis">semispinalis cervicis</a>, <a href="/articles/multifidus">multifidus</a> and opposite semispinalis capitis remain separate. </p><p>The medial septum runs deep into the vertebral column. It reaches depths as far as the <a href="/articles/ligamentum-flavum">ligamentum flavum</a>. The medial septum blends into the <a href="/articles/posterior-atlanto-occipital-membrane-1">posterior atlanto-occipital</a> and atlanto-axial membranes. It is attached to the posterior <a href="/articles/dura-mater">dura mater</a> along these membranes.</p>- +<p>The <strong>ligamentum nuchae</strong> is a large median ligament composed of tendons and fascia located between the posterior muscles of the neck. It covers the spines of <a href="/articles/atlas-c1">C1</a> to <a href="/articles/typical-cervical-vertebrae">C6 vertebrae</a>. It is a superior and posterior extension of the <a href="/articles/supraspinous-ligament">supraspinous ligament</a>. It rises from the spinous process of C7 to the <a href="/articles/inion">inion</a> of the <a href="/articles/occipital-bone">occipital bone</a>, attaching all the posterior tips of the spinous processes in between. It is thick and strong, limiting hyperflexion of the neck.</p><p>In quadriped animals, it is very strong and functions in keeping the neck and head of the animal up.</p><p>The ligamentum nuchae consists of the <strong>dorsal raphe </strong>and <strong>medial septal</strong> parts. The dorsal raphe attaches to muscles while the medial septum does not.</p><h4>Dorsal raphe</h4><p>The dorsal raphe is superficial to the posterior midline of the neck. It extends from the <a href="/articles/inion">occipital protuberance</a> to the spinous process of the <a href="/articles/vertebra-prominens-c7">C7 vertebra</a>. The superior portion consists of medial fibres from the cervical <a href="/articles/trapezius-muscle">trapezius</a>. The inferior portion consists of interweaving tendons from <a href="/articles/splenius-capitis">splenius capitis</a> and <a href="/articles/rhomboid-minor">rhomboid minor</a>.</p><h4>Medial septum</h4><p>The medial septum extends from the ventral surface of the dorsal raphe. The medial septum isolates the <a href="/articles/semispinalis-capitis">semispinalis capitis</a> ventrally and laterally. Thus, the <a href="/articles/semispinalis-cervicis">semispinalis cervicis</a>, <a href="/articles/multifidus">multifidus</a> and opposite semispinalis capitis remain separate. </p><p>The medial septum runs deep into the vertebral column. It reaches depths as far as the <a href="/articles/ligamentum-flavum">ligamentum flavum</a>. The medial septum blends into the <a href="/articles/posterior-atlanto-occipital-membrane-1">posterior atlanto-occipital</a> and atlanto-axial membranes. It is attached to the posterior <a href="/articles/dura-mater">dura mater</a> along these membranes.</p>
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