Three-dimensional quantitative morphology of lumbar spinal ligaments.

The three-dimensional (3-D) morphology of lumbar spinal ligaments was studied using 22 functional spinal units. A specially constructed 3-D morphometer instrument was used for quantitative measurements of each ligament's attachment point locations, origins and insertions, and attachments to the lower and upper vertebral bodies, respectively. Lengths and orientations of the ligaments according to the vertebral level were then computed and presented in reference to a local anatomic coordinate system. Associated cross-sectional areas are also obtained.