Interspinous ligament

Interspinous ligament
Median sagittal section of two lumbar vertebrae and their ligaments (interspinous ligament visible at center right)
Details
From	Spinous process of vertebra
To	Spinous process of vertebra
Identifiers
Latin	ligamenta interspinalia
TA98	A03.2.01.002
TA2	1674
FMA	71392
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

The interspinous ligaments (interspinal ligaments) are thin, membranous ligaments that connect adjoining spinous processes of the vertebra in the spine.^[1][2] They take the form of relatively weak sheets of fibrous tissue and are well developed only in the lumbar region.^[3]

They extend from the root to the apex of each spinous process. They meet the ligamenta flava anteriorly,^{[4][better source needed]} and blend with the supraspinous ligament^[3] posteriorly at the apexes of the spinal processes. The function of the interspinous ligaments is to limit ventral flexion of the spine and sliding movement of the vertebrae.^[5]

The ligaments are narrow and elongated in the thoracic region. They are broader, thicker, and quadrilateral in form in the lumbar region. They are only slightly developed in the neck;^[1] in the neck, they are often considered part of the nuchal ligament.^{[4][better source needed]}

References

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

External links

• Interspinous ligaments on AnatomyExpert.com
• Interspinous ligament^{[permanent dead link]} - BlueLink Anatomy - University of Michigan Medical School

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