Which cervical motion places the LEAST amount of compression on the vertebral artery as it courses through the cervical spine?

• A. Contralateral rotation
• B. Flexion
• C. Contralateral side flexion
• D. Extension

Answer: (B)

Movement of the neck that places the least compression on the vertebral artery is flexion. The vertebral artery travels upward through the neck and around the atlas, and motions that close down the bony passages or kink the vessel—especially extension and rotation—tunnel the artery against bone and surrounding tissues, increasing compression risk. Flexion, on the other hand, tends to straighten and lengthen the artery’s path and open up the surrounding space, reducing mechanical compression. Contralateral rotation or contralateral side bending can still angle or compress the artery more than flexion, which is why flexion presents the least likelihood of compromising vertebral artery flow.