Nuchal Ligament
Ligamentum nuchae
A strong fibroelastic midline septum running from the occiput down the cervical spinous processes; though a ligament, it serves as the shared muscular attachment (effectively an aponeurosis) for the trapezius, splenii, and semispinalis capitis. It is a critical load-distributing anchor for the posterior neck musculature trained in extension work.
- Attaches to
- External occipital protuberance and median nuchal line to the spinous processes of the cervical vertebrae (C1-C7)