Anterior longitudinal ligament

The anterior longitudinal ligament ( " anterior longitudinal ligament " ), in animals as longitudinal ligament ventral ( " belly -side longitudinal ligament " ), is a longitudinal band of the spine. It consists of collagenous connective tissue taut and connects the individual vertebrae at the front, in animals according to its underside with each other. It skips the intervertebral discs and the edge of the vertebral body, thereby stabilizing the spine. In animals, it is not formed over the entire spine, but starts at the 8th thoracic vertebra and extends to the sacrum.

The anterior longitudinal ligament, posterior longitudinal ligament is one next to, supraspinal ligament and ligamentum nuchae to the long spine bands. According to another classification, it belongs to the posterior longitudinal ligament of the vertebral bands that are compared to the other, called the vertebral arch bands.

Bleeding into the anterior longitudinal ligament ( Simonsche bleeding) in the lumbar spine is a typical sign of death by hanging.