nbme 6 question anatomy

[firstaid2012]

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A 55-year-old woman comes to the physician with a 3-month history of chronic back pain and difficulty walking, Neurologic examination shows tenderness of the spine and footdrop. Lumbar myelograms (could not be uploaded) show disc herniation. As the lumbar disc herniates into the spinal cord, which of the following ligaments is pushed into the spinal root nerves?

A) Anterior longitudinal ligament
B) Cruciform ligament
C) Interspinous ligament
D) Ligamentum flavum
E) Posterior longitudinal ligament
F) Supraspinous ligament

plz explain thank you

 

[thehundredthone]

The posterior longitudinal ligament runs down the posterior aspect of the vertebral bodies. Hence it forms the anterior border of the spinal canal. If a disc herniates posteriorly, it puts pressure on this ligament pushing it onto the spinal nerve roots.

Here's a (large, 2.4MB, sorry) image to help you visualise the position of the ligament.
http://ittcs.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/img_0234.jpg

 

[NewYorkDoctors]

Just remember the most common disk herniation goes posterolaterally

Hence use your anatomical knowledge to guide you after that

 

[maryzein]

The posterior longitudinal ligament runs down the posterior aspect of the vertebral bodies. Hence it forms the anterior border of the spinal canal. If a disc herniates posteriorly, it puts pressure on this ligament pushing it onto the spinal nerve roots.

Here's a (large, 2.4MB, sorry) image to help you visualise the position of the ligament.
http://ittcs.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/img_0234.jpg

thank you! I copy/ past it in another forum

http://www.usmleforum.com/files/forum/2008/1/335244.php