Interspinous ligament

Interspinous ligament
Median sagittal section of two lumbar vertebrae and their ligaments (interspinous ligament visible at center right)
Details
FromSpinous process of vertebra
ToSpinous process of vertebra
Identifiers
LatinLigamenta interspinalia
TA98A03.2.01.002
TA21674
FMA71392
Anatomical terminology

The interspinous ligaments (interspinal ligaments) are thin and membranous ligaments, that connect adjoining spinous processes of the vertebra in the spine.[1][2][3] They extend from the root to the apex of each spinous process. They meet the ligamenta flava in front and blend with the supraspinous ligament behind.[2]

The ligaments are narrow and elongated in the thoracic region, broader, thicker, and quadrilateral in form in the lumbar region, and only slightly developed in the neck.[1] In the neck they are often considered part of the nuchal ligament.[2]

The function of the interspinous ligaments is to limit flexion of the spine.[2]

References

Public domain This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 291 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. 1 2 "Gray, Henry. 1918. Anatomy of the Human Body". Bartleby.com. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Interspinous ligaments". AnatomyExpert. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  3. ↑ "interspinal ligament". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 30 March 2013.



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