An embodiment includes a system comprising: a tulip including a slot to receive a linkage, first and second side walls that define a portion of the slot, and a ring that couples the first side wall to the second side wall; wherein the ring couples to the first side wall at a thinned first proximal fulcrum and to the second side wall at a thinned second proximal fulcrum and the ring pivots about the first and second proximal fulcrums when the ring is forced proximally; wherein the first side wall includes a first sidewall projection that projects past the first proximal fulcrum and the second side wall includes a second sidewall projection that projects past the second proximal fulcrum. Other embodiments are described herein.