Supraspinous ligament
{{Short description|Ligament of the spine}}
{{Infobox ligament
| Name = Supraspinous ligament
| Latin = ligamentum supraspinale
| Image = Gray301.png
| Caption = Median sagittal section of two lumbar vertebræ and their ligaments.
| Image2 = Nuchal_ligament.PNG
| Caption2 = Posterior view of muscles connecting the upper extremity to the vertebral column. Nuchal ligament labeled in red at center.
| From = Spinous process of C7
| To = Sacrum
}}
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 processes from the seventh cervical vertebra to the sacrum.{{Citation|last=Salinas|first=Francis|title=Chapter 68 - Spinal Anesthesia|date=2005-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780443066511500721|work=Essentials of Pain Medicine and Regional Anesthesia (Second Edition)|pages=566–574|editor-last=Benzon|editor-first=Honorio T.|place=Philadelphia|publisher=Churchill Livingstone|language=en|doi=10.1016/b978-0-443-06651-1.50072-1|isbn=978-0-443-06651-1|access-date=2020-11-03|editor2-last=Raja|editor2-first=Srinivasa N.|editor3-last=Molloy|editor3-first=Robert E.|editor4-last=Liu|editor4-first=Spencer S.}} Superior to the 7th cervical vertebra, the supraspinous ligament is continuous with the nuchal ligament.{{cite book|last=Drake|first=Richard L.|title=Gray's anatomy for students|year=2005|publisher=Elsevier/Churchill Livingstone|location=Philadelphia|isbn=978-0-443-06612-2|edition=Pbk.|author2=Vogl, Wayne |author3=Tibbitts, Adam W.M. Mitchell |author4=illustrations by Richard |author5= Richardson, Paul }}{{rp|45}} It is thicker and broader in the lumbar region than in the thoracic region, and intimately blended with the neighboring fascia in both these regions.{{Cite book |last=Gray |first=Henry |url=https://archive.org/details/anatomyofhumanbo1918gray/page/659/mode/2up?view=theater |title=Gray's Anatomy |year=1918 |edition=20th |pages=290}} Inferior to L4, the supraspinous ligament becomes indistinct, lost amid the prominent lumbar fascia.{{Cite book |last=Sinnatamby |first=Chummy |title=Last's Anatomy |publisher= Elsevier Australia|year=2011 |isbn=978-0-7295-3752-0 |edition=12th |pages=424}}
File:Anatomy of the Neck Sagittal Color MRI.png
Between the spinous processes, the supraspinous ligament is continuous with the interspinous ligaments.
= Structure =
Function
Clinical significance
Lesions to the supraspinous ligament may result in palpable thickening.{{Citation|last1=Denoix|first1=Jean-Marie|title=Chapter 52 - Thoracolumbar Spine|date=2011-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9781416060697000523|work=Diagnosis and Management of Lameness in the Horse (Second Edition)|pages=592–605|editor-last=Ross|editor-first=Mike W.|place=Saint Louis|publisher=W.B. Saunders|language=en|doi=10.1016/b978-1-4160-6069-7.00052-3|isbn=978-1-4160-6069-7|access-date=2020-11-03|last2=Dyson|first2=Sue J.|editor2-last=Dyson|editor2-first=Sue J.}} Ultrasound is effective for detecting lesions.{{Citation|title=Back Pain (Thoracolumbar Dysfunction)|date=2012-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9781416099796000398|work=Clinical Veterinary Advisor|pages=61–63|editor-last=Wilson|editor-first=David A.|place=Saint Louis|publisher=W.B. Saunders|language=en|doi=10.1016/b978-1-4160-9979-6.00039-8|isbn=978-1-4160-9979-6|access-date=2020-11-03}} A strain injury can also damage the supraspinous ligament.{{Citation|last=Weaver|first=Martin P.|title=Chapter 18 - Orthopaedics 4. The back and pelvis|date=2012-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780702028014000183|work=Equine Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction (Second Edition)|pages=389–397|editor-last=Mair|editor-first=Tim S|place=Oxford|publisher=W.B. Saunders|language=en|doi=10.1016/b978-0-7020-2801-4.00018-3|isbn=978-0-7020-2801-4|access-date=2020-11-03|editor2-last=Love|editor2-first=Sandy|editor3-last=Schumacher|editor3-first=Jim|editor4-last=Smith|editor4-first=Roger KW}}
The supraspinous ligament creates resistance during midline epidural anaesthetics when the needle is being inserted. This increased resistance needs to be taken into account, and is one of the first subcutaneous tissues.{{Citation|last1=Kim|first1=Kyung-Hoon|title=Chapter 5 - Epidural Blocks|date=2010-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780702029134000057|work=Minimally Invasive Percutaneous Spinal Techniques|pages=111–123|editor-last=Kim|editor-first=Daniel H.|place=New York|publisher=W.B. Saunders|language=en|doi=10.1016/b978-0-7020-2913-4.00005-7|isbn=978-0-7020-2913-4|access-date=2020-11-03|last2=Kwon|first2=Jae-Young|editor2-last=Kim|editor2-first=Yong-Chul|editor3-last=Kim|editor3-first=Kyung-Hoon}}
See also
{{Anatomy-terms}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Joints of torso}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Ligaments of the torso