Attachments of the ligamentum nuchae to cervical posterior spinal dura and the lateral part of the occipital bone.

Abstract

The present study is the first to describe the full morphology of the relationship between the ligamentum nuchae and the cervical posterior spinal dura and the lateral aspects of the occipital bone. This is of significance for understanding the biomechanics of the cervical spine, particularly rotational movements of the head in the sagittal or transverse planes. This may have implications in manipulative therapy for conditions as cervicogenic headache and for various degenerative disorders affecting the cervical spine.