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Ligaments of the lumbar spine: a review

Les ligaments du rachis lombaire: une revue de la littérature

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Summary

A thorough knowledge of the anatomy of the intervertebral ligaments is necessary to provide the basis for good clinical management of back injuries. This paper reviews the literature concerning the lumbar ligaments, including the zygoapophyseal joints. While general principles regarding the anatomy of the ligaments is relatively clear, areas of ommission or discrepancy exist There is very little substantiated information on: the dimensional characteristics of the ligaments; the fibre lengths of the facet capsule; the attachments of the anterior longitudinal ligament; the orientation of the interspinous ligament, and the extent of the supraspinous ligament.

Résumé

Une connaissance approfondie de l'anatomie des ligaments intervertébraux est la base nécessaire à toute prise en charge clinique des lésions lombaires. Cet article est une revue de la littérature concernant les ligaments du rachis lombaire y compris ceux des articulations zygapophysaires. Alors que les principes généraux concernant l'anatomie de ces ligaments sont à peu près clairement établis, plusieurs points cependant font l'objet d'omissions ou de polémiques. Il y a très peu de données bien fondées sur les dimensions ligamentaires, la longueur des fibres capsulaires, les insertions du ligament longitudinal ventral, l'orientation des ligaments interépineux et l'étendue du ligament supra-épineux.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3052, Victoria, Australia

    J. F. Behrsin & C. A. Briggs

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  1. J. F. Behrsin
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  2. C. A. Briggs
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Behrsin, J.F., Briggs, C.A. Ligaments of the lumbar spine: a review. Surg Radiol Anat 10, 211–219 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02115239

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02115239

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