Corpus: Denticulate ligament

The ligamentum denticulatum is a thin, fibrous connective tissue plate that runs from the pia mater spinalis to the inside of the dura mater spinalis. The points where the spinal nerves pass through are recessed, which gives the ligament its serrated appearance.

The dentate ligament forms a frontally aligned plate of tight collagenous connective tissue with few elastic fibres. It is attached to the pia mater on both sides of the spinal cord.

It runs out laterally into approx. 20 prongs, the tips of which attach to the dura mater spinalis between the dura funnels. The uppermost prong runs through the foramen magnum and inserts into the cranial dura mater. The most caudal prong is located above the root of the first lumbar nerve. The remaining intumescentia lumbosacralis and the conus medullaris have no denticular ligament.

The denticular ligament serves to suspend the spinal cord in the dural sac.