Ligaments of the Spine

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Depicted are multiple view of ligaments of the spine.

Ligaments of the spine. Top left, a right lateral view of a sagittal-plane cross-section. Top right, an anterior view with the bodies of the vertebra removed. Bottom, a posterior view. Permission Dr. Joe Muscolino (www.learnmuscles.com).

Pictured are three figures of ligaments of the spine…

• Top left is a right lateral view of a sagittal plane cross-section. We see the :
  • Anterior longitudinal ligament
  • Posterior longitudinal ligament
  • Ligamentum flavum
  • Interspinous ligament
  • Supraspinous ligament

• Top right is an anterior-to-posterior view with the bodies of the vertebrae removed.
  • We see the ligamentum flava along the posterior aspect of  the spinal canal.

• Bottom is a posterior view in which we see the intertransverse ligaments.

Notes:

1. The anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments are named for their location relative to the bodies of the vertebrae.
2. The word “flavum” comes from the Latin word for “yellow” because this ligament has a great number of elastin fibers, which impart a yellow color to it.
3. The ligamentum flava attach along the laminae of the vertebrae.
4. Note the proximity of the ligamentum flava to where the spinal cord (not seen) is located in the spinal canal.
5. “Ligamentum flavum” is singular; “ligamentum flava” is plural.