Denticulate ligaments

The denticulate ligaments are triangular shaped ligaments that anchor the spinal cord along its length, at each side, to the dura mater. The bases of the ligaments arise in the pia mater and they are firmly attached to the arachnoid mater and dura mater at the apex. They have 21 attachments per side. Named for their tooth-like appearance, the denticulate ligaments are traditionally believed to provide stability for the spinal cord against motion within the vertebral column. A portion of the spinal cord, showing its right lateral surface. The dura is opened and arranged to show the nerve roots. The denticulate ligaments are triangular shaped ligaments that anchor the spinal cord along its length, at each side, to the dura mater. The bases of the ligaments arise in the pia mater and they are firmly attached to the arachnoid mater and dura mater at the apex. They have 21 attachments per side. Named for their tooth-like appearance, the denticulate ligaments are traditionally believed to provide stability for the spinal cord against motion within the vertebral column. From a clinical standpoint, denticulate ligaments do not play a significant role in lumbar spinal stenosis when compared to issues such as disc herniations, facet hypertrophy, shape of spinal canal, size of spinal canal, ligamentum flavum hypertrophy, or degenerative joint disease resulting in bony osteophyte formation. There are schools of thought that the ventral and dorsal nerve roots are affected by abnormal tensions in the denticulate ligaments.