Not all humans have transforaminal ligaments (TFLs), and when present, they may be found at some levels and not others. Given that the TFL is a feature of human anatomy, why is it so variable? Is it possible that TFLs form in response to postural or traumatic biomechanical stresses? Support for this hypothesis would include a statistically significant difference in the presence and distribution of TFLs between populations of people differing in age, occupation, or history of accident. If the TFL is richly endowed with such sensory structures, the ligament would in effect be a monitor of changes in IVF dimensions. TFLs frequently cross the IVF in an oblique direction. This orientation would give mechanoreceptors the ability to monitor changes in vertical and horizontal IVF dimensions. I recommend further inquiry into the clinical relevance of the TFL
Charles S. Masarsky (Wed,) studied this question.