Posterior longitudinal ligament

Original Editor - Rachael Lowe

Top Contributors - Rachael Lowe, Adam Vallely Farrell, Kim Jackson, Evan Thomas, WikiSysop and Lucinda hampton  

Description

The posterior longitudinal ligament is situated within the vertebral canal, and extends along the posterior surfaces of the bodies of the vertebrae, from the body of the axis, where it is continuous with the Tectorial membrane, to the sacrum.

It is broader above than below, and thicker in the thoracic than in the cervical and lumbar regions. The ligament is more narrow at the vertebral bodies and wider at the intervertebral disc space which is more pronounced than the anterior longitudinal ligament. This is significant in understanding certain pathological conditions of the spine such as the typical location for a spinal disc herniation.

In the situation of the intervertebral fibrocartilages and contiguous margins of the vertebræ, where the ligament is more intimately adherent, it is broad, and in the thoracic and lumbar regions presents a series of dentations with intervening concave margins; but it is narrow and thick over the centers of the bodies, from which it is separated by the basivertebral veins.

This ligament is composed of smooth, shining, longitudinal fibers, denser and more compact than those of the anterior ligament, and consists of superficial layers occupying the interval between three or four vertebræ, and deeper layers which extend between adjacent vertebræ. It functions to prevent hyperflexion of the vertebral column.

Posterior Longintudinal Ligament - PA view

Posterior Longintudinal Ligament - Lateral view

Recent Related Research (from Pubmed)

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