Skip to main content
Biology LibreTexts

8.5.9: Clinical Application - Whiplash

  1. Last updated
  2. Save as PDF
  • Page ID
    53932

    • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    Clinical Application - Whiplash

    Whiplash is an injury commonly associated with rear-end motor vehicle collisions. In a rear-end collision, the head of the person in the car being rear-ended will be thrown backward, causing hyperextension of the neck. This action can stretch and/or tear the anterior longitudinal ligament, resulting in pain and stiffness in the neck. Following the hyperextension injury in the same accident, the same person’s head may then be thrown forward as a result of their vehicle and body being forced forward. This secondary action can cause hyperflexion of the neck and could jeopardize the integrity of the posterior longitudinal ligament and/or the nuchal ligament.

    Diagram of ligaments of the vertebral column

    Above: Illustration of the skull and upper vertebral column showing the position of ligaments that may be damaged as a result of an accident (whiplash).

    Attributions (All Vertebral Column Sections)

    This page titled 8.5.9: Clinical Application - Whiplash is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Rosanna Hartline.

    1. Back to top
    • Was this article helpful?

    Recommended articles

    1. Article type
      Section or Page
      Author
      Rosanna Hartline
      License Version
      4.0
    2. Tags
      This page has no tags.