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Light and Scanning Electron Microscopy of Human Spinal Ligaments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2011

L.-H. Yahia ,
G. Drouin  and
C.-H. Rivard
L.-H. Yahia
Affiliation:
Biomedical Engineering Institute, Ecole Polytechnique de Montréal, Canada
G. Drouin
Affiliation:
Biomedical Engineering Institute, Ecole Polytechnique de Montréal, Canada
C.-H. Rivard
Affiliation:
Ste-Justine Hospital, Montreal, Canada
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Abstract

Spinal ligaments were obtained from normal and scoliotic individuals. Detailed morphological studies were carried out on the yellow, interspinous and supraspinous ligaments by light and scanning electron microscopy. Normal yellow ligaments are mostly constituted of dense elastin fibers with only a few collagen fibers and sparse blood vessels, while in normal interspinous and supraspinous ligaments, the presence of collagen is highly dominant. In the latter structures, the collagen fascicles are characterized by a regular waviness morphology. The fibrils constituting the fascicles appear either parallel or helical with respect to the fascicle axis. Structural changes are observed in the spinal ligaments of patients with congenital as well as idiopathic scoliosis. For yellow ligaments, only slight differences are found between normal and scoliotic specimens. However, alterations in collagen waviness and architecture are observed mainly in the supraspinous ligaments and to a lesser extent in the interspinous ligaments. In addition, increases in the cellularity, loose connective tissue and vessels are found in both forgoing ligaments. These results indicate that the more pronounced scoliosis-related changes occur in ligaments having the farthest distance from the axis of flexion-rotation.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 55: Symposium G – Biomedical Materials , 1985 , 333
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1986

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References

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