Ligaments

About the Ligaments

Ligaments are bands of dense connective tissue that connect one bone to another, usually around joints. Like tendons, they are made mainly of collagen fibers, but they typically contain more elastic fibers and their fibers are less strictly parallel, allowing them to resist forces from several directions. They stabilize joints, guide their movement, and prevent motions that would damage them. Some ligaments are thickenings of the joint capsule, while others, like the cruciate ligaments of the knee, lie inside the joint. The word ligament is also used for folds of peritoneum that support abdominal organs, which are a different type of structure. Ligament injuries are called sprains and are graded by severity from stretching to complete tears. Among the most common are ankle sprains, typically affecting the anterior talofibular ligament, and tears of the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee, often during pivoting sports. Because ligaments have a limited blood supply, some, such as the anterior cruciate ligament, heal poorly and may require reconstruction.