Supraspinous ligament
Ligament of the spine
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. Superior to the 7th cervical vertebra, the supraspinous ligament is continuous with the nuchal ligament. 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. Inferior to L4, the supraspinous ligament becomes indistinct, lost amid the prominent lumbar fascia.
Between the spinous processes, the supraspinous ligament is continuous with the interspinous ligaments.
Structure
The most superficial fibers of this ligament extend across 3-4 vertebrae, deeper fibres extend across 2-3 vertebrae, while the deepest connect the spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae.
Function
The supraspinous ligament becomes taut when the spine is fully flexed. The supraspinous ligament, along with the posterior longitudinal ligament, interspinous ligaments and ligamentum flavum, help to limit hyperflexion of the vertebral column.
Clinical significance
Lesions to the supraspinous ligament may result in palpable thickening.
This brief starts where responsible research should: with the source description of “Supraspinous ligament” as ligament of the spine. Everything that follows is an evidence route, not borrowed authority.
Why this record matters
The subject matters to the general reference register because the source frames it as ligament of the spine. Its deeper value depends on whether names, dates, institutions and citations support that framing.
Vocabulary and entity names are the principal evidence signals here, because they determine the precision of every later search. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jun 23, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q1471133. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference.
Overview language is designed for orientation and should not be treated as a substitute for the evidence cited beneath it. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Use the entry as an orientation point, then follow its citations and revision history. Names, dates and institutional relationships should be checked against the original record.
- Subject orientation
- Search vocabulary
- Locating named sources
The closest primary source, responsible institution and strongest cited specialist reference.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Supraspinous ligament”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Supraspinous ligament primary sources, Supraspinous ligament archive and Supraspinous research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Supraspinous ligament”?
- Which cited source is closest to the event, object or claim?
- What terminology or title could unlock a more precise catalogue search?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Supraspinous ligament” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.