56 



Ligaments of the Spine. 



72. The Anterior 73. The Posterior 



Common or Common or 



Longitudinal Ligament, Longitudinal Ligament, 



Ligamentum longitudinals Ligamentum longitudinals 



anterius. posterias. 



The Ligamentum longitudinale anterius is attached above to the basilar 

 portion of the occipital bone, is at first narrow (Fig. 77), but soon becomes 

 broader, runs along the anterior surface of the vertebral column, and 

 is lost below in the periosteum of the sacrum. The weaker Ligamentum 

 lonyitudinale postering runs along the posterior surface of the vertebral 

 bodies, within the spinal canal from the axis to the sacrum ; it becomes 

 somewhat broader at each intervertebral disc. 



