Which structures may be compressed by ossified ligamentum flavum?

Which structures may be compressed by ossified ligamentum flavum?

• A. Brainstem
• B. Spinal Cord, Spinal Nerves, and Cauda Equina
• C. Heart and Great Vessels
• D. Cerebellum

Answer: (B)

Ossified ligamentum flavum narrows the spinal canal from within, so it can press on the neural elements that reside there. The spinal cord sits inside the canal, and the nerve roots exit and travel within or just outside this space as the spinal nerves and, lower down, the cauda equina. When the ligament thickens or ossifies, it reduces space behind the lamina and can compress these structures. Structures outside the spinal canal, such as the brainstem or cerebellum in the skull, or the heart and great vessels in the chest, aren’t affected by a ligament in the spine, so they aren’t the typical targets of this compression. Therefore, the neural elements that may be compressed are the spinal cord, spinal nerves, and cauda equina.

Ossified ligamentum flavum narrows the spinal canal from within, so it can press on the neural elements that reside there. The spinal cord sits inside the canal, and the nerve roots exit and travel within or just outside this space as the spinal nerves and, lower down, the cauda equina. When the ligament thickens or ossifies, it reduces space behind the lamina and can compress these structures.

Structures outside the spinal canal, such as the brainstem or cerebellum in the skull, or the heart and great vessels in the chest, aren’t affected by a ligament in the spine, so they aren’t the typical targets of this compression. Therefore, the neural elements that may be compressed are the spinal cord, spinal nerves, and cauda equina.