Interspinous Ligament

Description

Diagram depicting a midline sagittal cut of vertebrae with intact ligamentous structures. Ligaments of interest are outlined. The ligamentum flavum (red) forms the posterior wall of the vertebral column with the laminae. Just posterior, the interspinous ligament (blue) spans between adjacent spinous processes, while the supraspinous ligament (yellow) traverses over the most superior aspect of the spinous processes longitudinally

Computer-generated lateral three-dimensional (3D) image of the thoracolumbar spine shows the components of the anterior (yellow) and posterior (orange) spinal motion segments, including the interspinous ligament

Name

• Interspinous Ligaments (plural form)
• Interspinal Ligament
• Interspinal Ligaments
• Ligamenta interspinalia (Latin)

General

• Paired ligaments adjacent vertebral spinous processes from the cervical to lumbar spine
• Attaches from the base to the apex of each spinous process
• Blending with the ligamenta flava ventrally and supraspinous ligament dorsally
• Thicker and more developed in the lumbar region, thinner in the cervical region

Function

• Function as part of the Posterior Ligamentous Complex (PLC) of the spine
• Primary role is to limit spinal flexion and contribute to segmental stability

---

Clinical Significance

Pathology

• Degeneration or laxity may contribute to chronic low back pain
• Can be involved in Interspinous Bursitis (Baastrup disease)

Procedural/ Surgical

• Target for some minimally invasive stabilization procedures (interspinous devices)
• Integrity is assessed when determining need for surgical vs nonoperative management of spinal injuries

---

See Also

• Back Pain Main
• Physical Exam Back
• Back Anatomy Main

---