THE NATURE AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE INNERVATION OF HUMAN SUPRASPINAL AND INTERSPINAL LIGAMENTS

Study Design. To use fresh, human supraspinal and interspinal ligament s and document their innervation. Objectives. To characterize the inne rvation of the human supraspinal and interspinal ligaments. Summary of Background Data. The nature and distribution of the innervation of sp inal ligaments remains unknown. Methods. Sections of spinal ligaments were labeled with a fluorescent antibody against neurofilament protein s and observed with a confocal microscope. Results. The ligaments were found to be well innervated. Innervation was equally distributed alon g tile ligament, symmetrically distributed between left and right side s, and more densely distributed in the periphery. Pacinian corpuscles were scattered randomly, close to blood vessels, whereas Ruffini corpu scles were in the periphery, close to the collagen bundles. Conclusion s. Human supraspinal and interspinal ligaments are well innervated. Th is innervation might form the basis of neurologic feedback mechanisms for the protection and stability of the spine. These mechanisms might also be important in the development diseases such as scoliosis.