Ligament (anatomy)

A ligament is a band of dense connective tissue that connects bones or supports internal organs. Its collagen-rich structure stabilizes joints while allowing controlled movement.

Collagen: A family of structural proteins that gives connective tissues tensile strength. Collagen fibers let ligaments resist pulling forces without tearing under ordinary loads.
Anterior cruciate ligament injury: An injury to the knee ligament that limits forward movement and rotation of the tibia. This common injury shows how ligament failure can destabilize a joint.
Dense connective tissue: Connective tissue with abundant, closely packed collagen fibers that resist tension. Ligaments are specialized forms of dense connective tissue.
Medial collateral ligament: A ligament on the inner side of the knee that resists forces pushing the joint outward. It illustrates how a ligament can limit a specific direction of joint motion.
Extracellular matrix: The network of molecules surrounding cells that provides tissues with structural and biochemical support. Ligament strength depends on the organized matrix surrounding its cells.
Ligament sprain: An injury in which a ligament is stretched or torn by excessive force. Sprains are the direct clinical consequence of ligament fibers being overloaded.
Tendon: A band of dense connective tissue that connects muscle to bone. Tendons transmit muscle force, whereas ligaments primarily connect bones or support organs.
Ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow: A ligament complex on the inner elbow that stabilizes the joint against valgus stress. Its role in throwing highlights ligament adaptation to repeated high loads.
Enthesis: The site where a tendon or ligament attaches to bone. This specialized attachment transfers ligament tension into bone.
Magnetic resonance imaging: An imaging method that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed internal images. MRI can show ligament tears and surrounding joint damage.

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