The nature and distribution of the innervation of human supraspinal and interspinal ligaments.

Abstract

To use fresh, human supraspinal and interspinal ligaments and document their innervation. To characterize the innervation of the human supraspinal and interspinal ligaments. The nature and distribution of the innervation of spinal ligaments remains unknown. Sections of spinal ligaments were labeled with a fluorescent antibody against neurofilament proteins and observed with a confocal microscope. The ligaments were found to be well innervated. Innervation was equally distributed along the ligament, symmetrically distributed between left and right sides, and more densely distributed in the periphery. Pacinian corpuscles were scattered randomly, close to blood vessels, whereas Ruffini corpuscles were in the periphery, close to the collagen bundles. Human supraspinal and interspinal ligaments are well innervated. This 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 of diseases such as scoliosis.