Ligament: Ligamenta flava
Vertebral arches of three thoracic vertebræ viewed from the front.
Median sagittal section of two lumbar vertebræ and their ligaments.
Gray's	subject #72 290
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MeSH	A02.513.514.287
Dorlands/Elsevier	l_09/12492241

The ligamenta flava (singular, ligamentum flavum, Latin for yellow ligament) are ligaments which connect the laminae of adjacent vertebra, all the way from the axis to the first segment of the sacrum. They are best seen from the interior of the vertebral canal; when looked at from the outer surface they appear short, being overlapped by the laminæ.

Each ligament consists of two lateral portions which commence one on either side of the roots of the articular processes, and extend backward to the point where the laminæ meet to form the spinous process; the posterior margins of the two portions are in contact and to a certain extent united, slight intervals being left for the passage of small vessels. Each consists of yellow elastic tissue, the fibers of which, almost perpendicular in direction, are attached to the anterior surface of the lamina above, some distance from its inferior margin, and to the posterior surface and upper margin of the lamina below. In the cervical region the ligaments are thin, but broad and long; they are thicker in the thoracic region, and thickest in the lumbar region.

Their marked elasticity serves to preserve the upright posture, and to assist the vertebral column in resuming it after flexion. The elastin prevents buckling of the ligament into the spinal canal during extension, which would cause canal compression. Hypertrophy of this ligament may cause canal stenosis because it lies in the posterior portion of the vertebral canal.

[edit] External links

• SUNY Figs 02:02-05
• Picture at McGill University

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.

v • d • e Joints and ligaments of torso (TA A03.02-04, GA 3.299) Vertebral column Syndesmosis articulations of vertebral bodies: anterior longitudinal ligament · posterior longitudinal ligament articulations of vertebral arches: ligamenta flava · supraspinous ligament (nuchal ligament) · interspinal ligament · intertransverse ligament Synchondrosis intervertebral disc (annulus fibrosus, nucleus pulposus) Synovial joint Atlanto-axial (lat + med) capsule · atlantoaxial ligaments (anterior, posterior) · Cruciate ligament of atlas (Transverse ligament of atlas) Alar ligament · Apical ligament of dens · Tectorial membrane of atlanto-axial joint Zygapophysial no ligaments Lumbosacral iliolumbar ligament Sacrococcygeal anterior sacrococcygeal ligament · posterior sacrococcygeal ligament Thorax Costovertebral articulation of head of rib: radiate ligament · interarticular ligament costotransverse: Lumbocostal ligament Sternocostal interarticular sternocostal ligament · radiate sternocostal ligaments · costoxiphoid ligaments Interchondral no ligaments Costochondral no ligaments Pelvis Syndesmoses of pelvic girdle Obturator membrane · Obturator canal Pubic symphysis superior pubic ligament · inferior pubic ligament Sacroiliac anterior sacroiliac ligament · posterior sacroiliac ligament · interosseous sacroiliac ligament ligaments connecting the sacrum and ischium: sacrotuberous ligament · sacrospinous ligament Greater sciatic foramen · Lesser sciatic foramen

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