Cervical Spine Tests

Cervical Spine Anatomy
DrJanaOfficial, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The cervical spine, the uppermost portion of the spine, is made up of 7 cervical vertebrae. Between these vertebrae project the trunks of the 8 pairs of cervical nerve roots. There are a number of special tests for the cervical region that asses both the mobility of the spine as well as the compromise of the nerves and vessels in the area. The following is a list of some of the most common cervical spine special tests.

  • Alar Ligament Test
  • Bakody’s Sign
  • Cervical Distraction Test
  • Cranial Cervical Flexion Test
  • Cranial Nerve Tests
  • Sharp-Purser Test
  • Spurling’s Test (Foraminal Compression Test)
  • Transverse Ligament Test
  • Upper Limb Tension Test (ULTT)
  • Valsalva Test
  • Vertebral Artery Test

You may also be interested in taking our Quick Quiz on the Nervous System.

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