Spinal ligaments

Looks like

Bands running the whole length of the spine, in front of, behind and between the bones.

What it does

Hold the vertebrae in line and stop bending and twisting going too far.

Keeping it well

Movement and strength; they thicken and narrow the canal with age, which is spinal stenosis.

Its parts

• Ligamentum flavum
• Anterior longitudinal ligament
• Interspinous ligaments
• Intertransverse ligaments
• Nuchal ligament
• Posterior longitudinal ligament
• Supraspinous ligament

Related conditions

• Axial spondyloarthritis
• Bone metastases and spinal cord compression
• Gout
• Haemophilia & bleeding disorders
• Lyme disease
• Marfan syndrome & connective tissue disorders
• Osteoarthritis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Rheumatic fever & rheumatic heart disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Scoliosis
• Spina bifida & neural tube defects
• Spinal cord injury
• Spinal stenosis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Temporomandibular joint disorder