It may be partially cut to treat certain abnormal curvatures in the vertebral column, such as kyphosis.

The anterior longitudinal ligament extends superoinferiorly between the basiocciput of the skull and the anterior tubercle of the atlas (cervical certebra C1) superiorly, and the superior part of the sacrum inferiorly;[1] inferiorly, it ends at the sacral promontory.

[3] Superiorly, between the skull and atlas, the ligament is continuous laterally with the anterior atlantooccipital membrane.

[citation needed] The anterior longitudinal ligament may become calcified, causing back pain.

[6] The anterior longitudinal ligament may be "released", or partially cut, between two adjacent vertebrae.