Desmology

Question 1

Ligaments

Answer 1

• Helps in preventing unwanted movements
• a short band of tough, flexible fibrous connective tissue which connects two bones or cartilages or holds together a joint.
• bands of fibrous tissue uniting adjacent bones
• Many are bands of collagenous tissue with the important property of being of fixed dimension (i.e. will not stretch)
• Depending on exact location, ligaments can be described as:

1. capsular (within the structure of the joint capsule)
2. collateral (on other side of the joint)
3. intra-articular (within the joint)

Question 2

Ligamentum nuchae

Answer 2

• Other ligaments may have functions combining maitenance of body position with the ability to alter this as required
• ligamentum nuchae is a very well developed structure. It is a dense, bilaminar, triangular midline fibroelastic intermuscular septum
• It is dorsal to the vertebral column in the large domestic herbivores
• helps to maintain the head and neck in the upright position and allows grazing
• Its ability to stretch is a result of its composition of elastic connective tissues fibres