Ligaments and tendons

Question 1

Functional difference of ligaments and tendons

Answer 1

Ligament: Connect bone with bone
Tendon: Attach muscle to bone

Question 2

Structural difference of ligaments and tendons

Answer 2

Ligament: Less parallel in different layers, to sustain tensile stress
Tendon: Collagen fibre arranged in parallel fashion, to transmit tensile loads

Question 3

Composition difference of ligaments and tendons

Answer 3

Ligament has more elastin than tendon

Tendon has higher collagen content than ligament

Question 4

Features of viscoelastic behavior of tendon and ligaments

Answer 4

Hysteresis: Load- elongation curve differs during loading and unloading
Stress relaxation: Decrease in stress in tendon/ ligament to constant strain over an extended period
Creep: Constant loading results in a progressive deformation over extended period of time

Question 5

Healing phase of ligament and tendon

Answer 5

Phase 1: Inflammatory phase
Phase 2: Proliferative phase: New blood vessels and fibroblasts are recruited, type 3 collagen
Phase 3: Remodelling phase: Progressive maturation and conversion of collagen fibres from type 3 to type

Question 6

Factors affecting tendon/ ligament healing

Answer 6

Mobilisation: remodel in response to mechanical demands placed (Controlled movement)

Surgery: Calibre of suture, number of suture strands, suture technique

Biological and biochemical manipulation: Use of growth factors eg: EGF and PDF increases fibroblast prikuferatuib

Joint instability: Multiple ligament injury