The interspinous ligaments (interspinal ligaments) are thin, membranous

ligament A ligament is a type of fibrous connective tissue in the body that connects bones to other bones. It also connects flight feathers to bones, in dinosaurs and birds. All 30,000 species of amniotes (land animals with internal bones) have liga ...

s that connect adjoining

spinous processes Each vertebra (: vertebrae) is an irregular bone with a complex structure composed of bone and some hyaline cartilage, that make up the vertebral column or spine, of vertebrates. The proportions of the vertebrae differ according to their spinal ...

of the

vertebra Each vertebra (: vertebrae) is an irregular bone with a complex structure composed of bone and some hyaline cartilage, that make up the vertebral column or spine, of vertebrates. The proportions of the vertebrae differ according to their spina ...

in the

spine Spine or spinal may refer to: Science Biology * Spinal column, also known as the backbone * Dendritic spine, a small membranous protrusion from a neuron's dendrite * Thorns, spines, and prickles, needle-like structures in plants * Spine (zoology), ...

. They take the form of relatively weak sheets of fibrous tissue and are well developed only in the lumbar region. They extend from the root to the apex of each spinous process. They meet the

ligamenta flava The ligamenta flava (: ligamentum flavum, Latin for ''yellow ligament'') are a series of ligaments that connect the ventral parts of the laminae of adjacent vertebrae. They help to preserve upright posture, preventing hyperflexion, and ensuring ...

anteriorly, and blend with the

supraspinous ligament The supraspinous ligament (also known as the supraspinal ligament) is a ligament extending across the tips of the spinous processes of the vertebra of the vertebral column. Anatomy The supraspinous ligament connects the tips of the spinous proces ...

posteriorly at the apexes of the spinal processes. The function of the interspinous ligaments is to limit ventral

flexion Motion, the process of movement, is described using specific anatomical terminology, anatomical terms. Motion includes movement of Organ (anatomy), organs, joints, Limb (anatomy), limbs, and specific sections of the body. The terminology used de ...

of the spine and sliding movement of the vertebrae. The ligaments are narrow and elongated in the thoracic region. They are broader, thicker, and quadrilateral in form in the

lumbar region In tetrapod anatomy, lumbar is an adjective that means of or pertaining to the abdominal segment of the torso, between the diaphragm and the sacrum. Naming and location The lumbar region is sometimes referred to as the lower spine, or as an ...

. They are only slightly developed in the

neck The neck is the part of the body in many vertebrates that connects the head to the torso. It supports the weight of the head and protects the nerves that transmit sensory and motor information between the brain and the rest of the body. Addition ...

; in the neck, they are often considered part of the

nuchal ligament The nuchal ligament is a ligament at the back of the neck that is continuous with the supraspinous ligament. Structure The nuchal ligament extends from the external occipital protuberance on the skull and median nuchal line to the spinous p ...

References

External links

Interspinous ligaments on AnatomyExpert.com

Interspinous ligament
- BlueLink Anatomy - University of Michigan Medical School Ligaments of the torso Bones of the vertebral column {{ligament-stub