The cervical ligamentum flavum connects adjacent laminae throughout the cervical spine, forming the posterior spinal canal wall and resisting flexion at each segment. Its high elastin content prevents buckling into the canal during extension. Cervical ligamentum flavum hypertrophy is less common than in the lumbar spine but contributes to cervical spondylotic myelopathy when combined with disc osteophyte complexes anteriorly.
| Origin | Anterior surface of the lamina of each cervical vertebra |
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| Insertion | Posterior surface of the lamina below |
| Actions | Resists flexion, maintains cervical lordosis, forms part of the posterior spinal canal wall |
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In Japanese and East Asian populations, ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and ligamentum flavum is more common than in Western populations, contributing to severe multilevel cervical canal stenosis that may require extensive posterior decompression with laminoplasty to preserve cervical motion while decompressing the cord.
Ectopic bone formation causing posterior cervical canal narrowing and myelopathy, requiring laminoplasty or laminectomy and fusion for cord decompression.
