Ligaments

Question 1

What are Ligaments

Answer 1

Ligaments are tough bands of connective tissue made of collagen and elastin connecting bone to bone.

Question 2

Types of Ligaments

Answer 2

Extrinsic ligament: This type of ligament is located on the outside of a joint. An example is the lateral collateral ligament (LCL), which resists abnormal movement away from the midline, termed varus stress.

Varus: an abnormal joint movement away from the midline of the body (i.e., bowlegged)

Intrinsic ligament: The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) are situated inside the knee joint to resist anterior and posterior (forward and backward) movement of the tibia, respectively.

Capsular ligament: The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is a capsular ligament, so called because it is continuous with the joint capsule. It resists valgus stress at the knee by keeping the joint approximated.

Valgus: an abnormal joint movement toward the midline of the body (i.e., knock-kneed)

Question 3

Elastin

Answer 3

a highly elastic connective tissue allowing many tissues to retain their shape

Question 4

Joint capsule

Answer 4

a thin, strong layer of connective tissue containing synovial fluid in freely moving joints

Question 5

Extrinsic ligament

Answer 5

This type of ligament is located on the outside of a joint. An example is the lateral collateral ligament (LCL), which resists abnormal movement away from the midline, termed varus stress.

Varus: an abnormal joint movement away from the midline of the body (i.e., bowlegged)

Question 6

Intrinsic ligament

Answer 6

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) are situated inside the knee joint to resist anterior and posterior (forward and backward) movement of the tibia, respectively.

Question 7

Capsular ligament

Answer 7

The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is a capsular ligament, so called because it is continuous with the joint capsule. It resists valgus stress at the knee by keeping the joint approximated.

Valgus: an abnormal joint movement toward the midline of the body (i.e., knock-kneed)