Joints and Ligaments of the Lower Limb

Joint or ligament	Description	Notes
Joints and Ligaments of the Lower Limb - Listed Alphabetically
acetabular labrum see image	this is a ring of cartilage that surrounds the acetabulum (the socket of the hip joint).	the acetabular labrum's function is to deepen the acetabulum, making it more difficult for the head of the femur to slip out of place (sublux).
ankle joint see image	the articulation between the distal tibia, the medial malleolus of the tibia, the lateral malleolus of the fibula and the talus	a synovial hinge joint; the ankle is reinforced by the deltoid ligament (anterior tibiotalar, tibionavicular, tibiocalcaneal, posterior tibiotalar parts), the anterior talofibular ligament, the calcaneofibular ligament and the posterior talofibular ligament; because of the shape of the talus, the ankle is most stable when the foot is dorsiflexed; the ankle is often injured when the foot is plantar flexed
anterior cruciate ligament see image	a ligament connecting the anterior aspect of the intercondylar eminence of the tibia with the medial surface of the lateral femoral condyle	an intracapsular ligament located within the fibrous joint capsule of the knee but external to the synovial cavity of the knee; The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur. Its proximal fibers fan out along the medial wall of the lateral femoral condyle. There are two bundles of the ACL - the anteromedial and the posterolateral, named according to where the bundles insert into the tibial plateau. The ACL attaches in front of the intercondyloid eminence of the tibia, being blended with the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus. These attachments allow it to resist anterior translation of the tibia, in relation to the femur. Anterior cruciate ligament injury is the most common knee ligament injury, especially in athletes. Lateral rotational movements in sports like these are what cause the ACL to strain or tear. Strains can sometimes be fixed through physical therapy and muscle strengthening, though tears almost always require surgery. The most common method for repairing ACL injuries is arthroscopic surgery. Other common injuries accompanying ACL tears are meniscus, MCL, and knee cartilage tears.
anterior talofibular ligament see image	a ligament that connects the lateral malleolus of the fibula with the anterolateral surface of the talus.	this ligament reinforces the ankle joint
anterior tibiofibular ligament see image	the ligament that connects the distal ends of the tibia and the fibula anteriorly.	this ligament reinforces the tibiofibular syndesmosis (at the distal ends of these bones)
anterior tibiotalar ligament see image	part of the deltoid ligament connecting the medial malleolus of the tibia with the talus.	this ligament reinforces the ankle joint
calcaneofibular ligament see image	a ligament that connects the lateral malleolus of the fibula with the calcaneus.	this ligament reinforces the ankle joint
deltoid ligament see image	the ligament that connects the medial malleolus of the tibia with the talus, navicular and calcaneus.	the deltoid ligament reinforces the ankle joint; it has the shape of the Greek letter delta, hence its name; it has four parts, the anterior tibiotalar ligament, the tibiocalcaneal ligament, the posterior tibiotalar Ligament, and the tibionavicular igament. It consists of two sets of fibres, superficial and deep.
fibular collateral ligament see image	the collateral ligament of the knee that connects the lateral epicondyle of the femur with the head of the fibula.	an extracapsular ligament, not part of the fibrous capsule of the knee; rounded, more narrow and less broad than the medial collateral ligament, the fibular collateral ligament stretches obliquely downward and backward from the lateral epicondyle of the femur above, to the head of the fibula below. In contrast to the medial collateral ligament, it is fused with neither the capsular ligament nor the lateral meniscus. Because of this, the lateral collateral ligament is more flexible than its medial fellow, and the latter is therefore more susceptible to injury
hip joint see image	scientifically referred to as the acetabulofemoral joint (art. coxae), it is the joint between the femur and acetabulum of the pelvis	a synovial ball and socket joint; its primary function is to support the weight of the body in both static (e.g. standing) and dynamic (e.g. walking or running) postures; it is reinforced by capsular ligaments (iliofemoral, pubofemoral, ischiofemoral, zona orbicularis); the fibers of the articular capsule become taut on hip extension and lax on hip flexion; dislocation injuries of the hip are most common when the hip is flexed (sitting in a car seat during an impact that causes the knees to strike the dash board, for example)
iliofemoral ligament see image	is a ligament of the hip joint which extends from the ilium to the femur in front of the joint; it reinforces the anterior surface of the articular capsule of the hip joint	the iliofemoral ligament is shaped like an inverted "Y"; it connects the anterior inferior iliac spine to the anterior surface of the intertrochanteric line of the femur; also known as the ligament of Bigelow
infrapatellar bursa, deep see image	the bursa lying between the patellar ligament and the tibia	synovial membrane; it allows for movement of the patellar ligament over the tibia.
infrapatellar bursa, superficial see image	a subcutaneous bursa overlying the patellar ligament	synovial membrane
interosseous ligaments of the foot	ligaments that reinforce intertarsal (gliding) synovial joints	The interosseous ligaments are three in number. The first is the strongest, and passes from the lateral surface of the first cuneiform to the adjacent angle of the second metatarsal. The second connects the third cuneiform with the adjacent angle of the second metatarsal. The third connects the lateral angle of the third cuneiform with the adjacent side of the base of the third metatarsal.
interosseous membrane of the leg see image	the membrane that connects the interosseous borders of the shafts of the tibia and fibula	a syndesmosis
ischiofemoral ligament see image	the ligament reinforcing the posterior surface of the articular capsule of the hip joint	the ischiofemoral ligament connects the body of the ischium to the posterior portion of the femoral neck; it is also known as the ischiocapsular ligament, the ischiocapsular bandand the ligament of Bertin
knee joint see image	the articulation between the femoral condyles and the tibial condyles	a synovial hinge joint; it is reinforced by intracapsular ligaments (anterior & posterior cruciate ligaments) and two types of collateral ligaments (capsular - tibial collateral ligament, and extracapsular - fibular collateral ligament); the medial and lateral menisci are contained within the joint capsule
lateral meniscus see image	an intra-articular disc within the knee joint located between the lateral femoral condyle and the lateral tibial condyle	fibrocartilage; it is attached to the coronary ligament and the intercondylar eminence of the tibia
ligament of the head of the femur see image	an intracapsular ligament that attaches to the fovea of the head of the femur and to the acetabular fossa	the ligament of the head of the femur contains a small artery (the artery of the ligament of the head of the femur) which supplies the femoral head; in fractures of the neck of the femur the retinacular artery that course along the neck may be damaged, so that the artery to the head may be the only blood supply to the head and proximal neck
long plantar ligament see image	a ligament that connects the plantar surface of the calcaneus, cuboid and the bases of the lateral 3 metatarsal bones	a ligament that reinforces a complex set of intertarsal (gliding) synovial joints; the long plantar ligament supports the longitudinal arch of the foot
longitudinal arch of the foot see image	the arch that passes from the calcaneus to the talus to the navicular to the cuneiforms to the metatarsal	a series of plane synovial joints; the longitudinal arch of the foot is formed by the shapes of the metatarsal bones and is supported by the plantar calcaneonavicular (spring) ligament and many other small interosseous ligaments; the tendons of the tibialis anterior and tibialis posterior mm. also play a supporting role in maintaining the longitudinal arch of the foot
medial meniscus see image	an intra-articular disc within the knee joint located between the medial femoral condyle and the medial tibial condyle	fibrocartilage; it is attached to the tibial collateral ligament, coronary ligament and intercondylar eminence of the tibia; its attachment fo the tibial collateral ligament results in injury to the medial meniscus whenever the medial collateral ligament is injured
metatarsophalangeal joint see image	the articulation between the head of a metatarsal and the base of a proximal phalanx	a synovial condyloid (or ellipsoid) joint; it is strengthened by medial and lateral collateral ligaments; the joint has two planes of motion: flexion/extension and abduction/adduction which may be combined to yield circumduction
patellar ligament see image	the tendon of insertion of the quadriceps femoris muscle	the quadriceps femoris tendon connects the quadriceps femoris muscle group to the patella and the patellar ligament connects the patella to the tibial tuberosity; the patella is a sesamoid bone within the quadriceps femoris tendon
plantar calcaneocuboid ligament see image	a ligament that connects the calcaneus with the cuboid on their plantar surfaces	a ligament that reinforces a complex set of intertarsal (gliding) synovial joints; it supports the longitudinal arch of the foot; also known as: short plantar ligament
plantar calcaneonavicular ligament see image	a ligament that connects the sustentaculum tali with the plantar surface of the navicular bone	a ligament that reinforces a complex set of intertarsal (gliding) synovial joints; it supports the longitudinal arch of the foot; also known as: spring ligament
posterior cruciate ligament see image	a ligament connecting the posterior aspect of the intercondylar eminence with the lateral surface of the medial femoral condyle	an intracapsular ligament located within the fibrous joint capsule of the knee but external to the synovial cavity of the knee; the posterior cruciate ligament limits the posterior movement of the tibia relative to the femur in all positions of joint movement
posterior meniscofemoral ligament see image	an intracapsular ligament that connects the posterior part of the lateral meniscus with the lateral surface of the medial femoral condyle	may be absent
posterior talofibular ligament see image	a ligament that connects the lateral malleolus of the fibula with the posterolateral surface of the talus.	it is a ligament that reinforces the ankle joint
posterior tibiofibular ligament see image	the ligament that connects the distal ends of the tibia and the fibula posteriorly.	this ligament reinforces the tibiofibular syndesmosis (at the distal ends of these bones)
posterior tibiotalar ligament see image	part of the deltoid ligament connecting the medial malleolus of the tibia with the talus posteriorly.	it is a ligament that reinforces the ankle joint
prepatellar bursa see image	a subcutaneous bursa overlying the patella	synovial membrane; inflammation of this bursa leads to the condition known as "housemaid's knee" (prepatellar bursitis), so named because housemaids at one time traumatized this bursa while scrubbing floors on their hands and knees
pubofemoral ligament see image	the ligament reinforcing the medial surface of the articular capsule of the hip joint	the pubofemoral ligament connects the pubic portion of the rim of the bony acetabulum to the medial surface of the femoral neck
suprapatellar bursa see image	the superior extension of the synovial membrane of the knee joint	it passes deep to the quadriceps femoris tendon; the suprapatellar bursa reduces friction between the quadriceps femoris tendon and the femur
tarsometatarsal joints see image	the articulations between the distal row of tarsal bones and the proximal ends of the metatarsal bones	gliding synovial joints; they are reinforced by dorsal and plantar ligaments which limit the motion between adjacent bones
tibial collateral ligament see image	the collateral ligament of the knee joint connecting the medial epicondyle of the femur with the medial surface of the medial condyle of the tibia	the tibial collateral ligament reinforces the medial surface of the articular capsule of the knee; it is attached to the medial meniscus which has clinical relevance - when the tibial collateral ligament tears in a clipping-type injury (knee abduction), the medial meniscus also tears
tibiocalcaneal ligament see image	part of the deltoid ligament connecting the medial malleolus of the tibia with the sustentaculum tali	it is a ligament that reinforces the ankle joint
tibionavicular ligament see image	part of the deltoid ligament connecting the medial malleolus of the tibia with the navicular.	it is a ligament that reinforces the ankle joint
transverse acetabular ligament see image	the ligament that spans the acetabular notch near the rim of the acetabulum	the acetabular branch of the obturator artery enters the hip joint by passing beneath the transverse acetabular ligament; the artery of the ligament of the head of the femur is a branch of the acetabular a.
transverse arch of the foot see image	the arch that passes through the distal row of tarsal bones	a series of plane synovial joints; the transverse arch of the foot is supported by the shape of the tarsal bones, many small interosseous ligaments and the tendons of the fibularis longus m., tibialis anterior m. and tibialis posterior m.
zona orbicularis see image	circularly oriented ligamentous fibers that reinforce the capsule of the hip joint	the zona orbicularis fibers tend to constrict the fibrous joint capsule around the neck of the femur, helping to hold the head of the femur in the acetabulum

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