Cervical Lamina

lamina arcus vertebrae cervicalis

The cervical laminae are flat bony plates forming the posterior wall of the spinal canal, joining medially at the spinous process. They are thinner than thoracic or lumbar laminae and provide the structural posterior coverage of the cervical cord. The ligamentum flavum attaches to the inner surface of each lamina, and the multifidus originates from the outer surface.

Anatomical Data

Structure & Landmarks

Articulations	Spinous process (medial junction) Ligamentum flavum (inner surface) Facet joints (via lateral articular processes)
Landmarks	Inner laminar surface (ligamentum flavum attachment) Outer laminar surface (multifidus origin) Laminar thickness (thinnest at C3-C4, thicker at C7)
Ossification	Formed from neural arch ossification centres, fusing posteriorly by age 1-2.

Clinical Relevance

Clinical Notes

Cervical laminoplasty (open-door or French-door technique) hinges the laminae to expand the spinal canal in multilevel cervical stenosis, preserving posterior tension band function better than laminectomy alone. Laminectomy removes the laminae to decompress the cord but risks kyphotic collapse if the posterior ligamentous complex is disrupted. Laminar hooks and screws are anchored to the lamina in posterior fixation constructs. Calcification of the ligamentum flavum at the laminar attachment is a cause of ossific cervical stenosis.

Pathology

Common Injuries & Conditions

Lamina Fracture

Hyperextension can fracture the cervical laminae, sometimes with cord injury in a narrowed canal.

Cervical Spinal Stenosis

Narrowing of the canal by disc, ligamentum flavum, and facet hypertrophy causes myelopathy and may be treated by laminoplasty or laminectomy.

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