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
Dorlands /Elsevier	l_09/12492445
TA	A03.2.01.002
FMA	71392
Anatomical terminology []

The interspinous ligaments (interspinal ligaments) are thin and membranous ligaments, that connect adjoining spinous processes of the vertebra in the spine. 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.

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. In the neck they are often considered part of the nuchal ligament.

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

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

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