ligament
[lig´ah-ment]1. a band of fibrous tissue connecting bones or cartilages, serving to support and strengthen joints. See also sprain.
2. a double layer of peritoneum extending from one visceral organ to another.
3. cordlike remnants of fetal tubular structures that are nonfunctional after birth. adj., adj ligament´ous.
accessory ligament one that strengthens or supports another.
arcuate l's the arched ligaments that connect the diaphragm with the lowest ribs and the first lumbar vertebra.
broad ligament of uterus a broad fold of peritoneum supporting the uterus, extending from the side of the uterus to the wall of the pelvis.
capsular ligament the fibrous layer of a joint capsule.
conoid ligament the posteromedial portion of the coracoclavicular ligament, extending from the coracoid process to the inferior surface of the clavicle.
coracoclavicular ligament a band joining the coracoid process of the scapula and the acromial extremity of the clavicle, consisting of two ligaments, the conoid and trapezoid.
costotransverse ligament three ligaments (lateral, middle, and superior) that connect the neck of a rib to the transverse process of a vertebra.
cruciate l's of knee more or less cross-shaped ligaments, one anterior and one posterior, which arise from the femur and pass through the intercondylar space to attach to the tibia.
Cruciate ligaments of the knee. From Jarvis, 2000.
crural ligament inguinal ligament.
deltoid ligament of ankle medial ligament.
falciform ligament of liver a sickle-shaped sagittal fold of peritoneum that helps to attach the liver to the diaphragm and separates the right and left lobes of the liver. Called also broad ligament of liver.
gastrosplenic ligament a peritoneal fold extending from the greater curvature of the stomach to the hilum of the spleen.
Gimbernat's ligament a membrane with its base just lateral to the femoral ring, one side attached to the inguinal ligament and the other to the pectineal line of the pubis. Called also lacunar ligament.
glenohumeral l's bands, usually three, on the inner surface of the articular capsule of the humerus, extending from the glenoid lip to the anatomical neck of the humerus.
Henle's ligament a lateral expansion of the lateral edge of the rectus abdominis muscle which attaches to the pubic bone.
inguinal ligament a fibrous band running from the anterior superior spine of the ilium to the spine of the pubis; called also Poupart's ligament.
intracapsulary l's ligaments of the joint capsule that are inside the capsule.
lacunar ligament Gimbernat's ligament.
Lisfranc's ligament a fibrous band extending from the medial cuneiform bone to the second metatarsal.
Lockwood's ligament a suspensory sheath supporting the eyeball.
medial ligament a large fan-shaped ligament on the medial side of the ankle.
meniscofemoral l's two small fibrous bands of the knee joint attached to the lateral meniscus, one (the anterior) extending to the anterior cruciate ligament and the other (the posterior) to the medial femoral condyle.
nephrocolic ligament fasciculi from the fatty capsule of the kidney passing down on the right side to the posterior wall of the ascending colon and on the left side to the posterior wall of the descending colon.
nuchal ligament a broad, fibrous, roughly triangular sagittal septum in the back of the neck, separating the right and left sides.
patellar ligament the continuation of the central portion of the tendon of the quadriceps femoris muscle distal to the patella, extending from the patella to the tuberosity of the tibia; called also patellar tendon.
pectineal ligament a strong aponeurotic lateral continuation of the lacunar ligament along the pectineal line of the pubis.
periodontal ligament the connective tissue structure that surrounds the roots of the teeth and holds them in place in the dental alveoli.
Petit's ligament uterosacral ligament.
phrenicocolic ligament costocolic fold.
Poupart's ligament inguinal ligament.
pulmonary ligament a vertical fold extending from the hilus to the base of the lung.
rhomboid ligament the ligament connecting the cartilage of the first rib to the undersurface of the clavicle.
round ligament of femur a broad ligament arising from the fatty cushion of the acetabulum and inserted on the head of the femur.
round ligament of liver a fibrous cord from the navel to the anterior border of the liver.
round ligament of uterus a fibromuscular band attached to the uterus near the fallopian tube, passing through the abdominal ring, and into the labium majus.
splenorenal ligament a peritoneal fold that passes from the diaphragm to the concave surface of the spleen.
suspensory ligament of axilla a layer ascending from the axillary fascia and ensheathing the smaller pectoral muscle.
suspensory ligament of lens ciliary zonule.
sutural ligament a band of fibrous tissue between the opposed bones of a suture or immovable joint.
tendinotrochanteric ligament a portion of the capsule of the hip joint.
transverse humeral ligament a band of fibers bridging the intertubercular groove of the humerus and holding the tendon in the groove.
trapezoid ligament the anterolateral portion of the coracoclavicular ligament, extending from the upper surface of the coracoid process to the trapezoid line of the clavicle.
umbilical ligament, medial a fibrous cord, the remains of the obliterated umbilical artery, running cranialward beside the bladder to the umbilicus.
uteropelvic l's expansions of muscular tissue in the broad ligament of the uterus, radiating from the fascia over the internal obturator muscle to the side of the uterus and the vagina.
uterosacral ligament a part of the thickening of the visceral pelvic fascia beside the cervix and vagina; called also Petit's ligament.
ventricular ligament vestibular ligament.
vesicouterine ligament a ligament that extends from the anterior aspect of the uterus to the bladder.
vestibular ligament the membrane extending from the thyroid cartilage in front to the anterolateral surface of the arytenoid cartilage behind; called also ventricular ligament.
vocal ligament the elastic tissue membrane extending from the thyroid cartilage in front to the vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage behind.
Weitbrecht's ligament a small ligamentous band extending from the ulnar tuberosity to the radius.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
lig·a·ment
(lig'ă-ment), [TA] Avoid the misspelling/mispronunciation legament.1. A band or sheet of fibrous tissue connecting two or more bones, cartilages, or other structures, or serving as support for fasciae or muscles.
2. A fold of peritoneum supporting any of the abdominal viscera.
3. Any structure resembling a ligament although not performing the function of such.
4. The cordlike remains of a fetal vessel or other structure that has lost its original lumen.
Synonym(s): ligamentum [TA]
[L. ligamentum, a band, bandage]
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
ligament
(lĭg′ə-mənt)n.
1. Anatomy A sheet or band of tough, fibrous tissue connecting bones or cartilages at a joint or supporting an organ.
2. A unifying or connecting tie or bond.
lig′a·men′tal (-mĕn′tl), lig′a·men′ta·ry (-mĕn′tə-rē, -mĕn′trē), lig′a·men′tous adj.
The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
lig·a·ment
(lig'ă-mĕnt) [TA]1. A band or sheet of fibrous tissue connecting two or more bones, cartilages, or other structures, or serving as support for fascias or muscles.
2. A fold of peritoneum supporting any of the abdominal viscera.
3. Any structure resembling a ligament though not performing the function of one.
4. [TA] The cordlike remains of a fetal vessel or other structure that has lost its original lumen.
Synonym(s): ligamentum [TA] .
Synonym(s): ligamentum [TA] .
[L. ligamentum, a band, bandage]
Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012
ligament
a capsule of elastic CONNECTIVE TISSUE that joins bones. Ligaments are composed of tightly packed elastic fibres which surround a joint. They prevent dislocation of joints, support bones, and hold the skeleton together, and are ideally suited to withstanding sudden stresses applied to the joints.Collins Dictionary of Biology, 3rd ed. © W. G. Hale, V. A. Saunders, J. P. Margham 2005
Ligament
Ligaments are structures that hold bones together and prevent excessive movement of the joint. They are tough, fibrous bands of tissue.
Mentioned in: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Immobilization, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Sacroiliac Disease, Sprains and Strains
Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
ligament
A tough, flexible band of white fibrous tissue that connects the articular extremities of bones, or supports an organ in place.
check ligament A strong band of connective tissue which leaves the surface of the sheath of the extraocular muscles and attaches to the surrounding tissues, so as to limit the action of the muscle. The medial rectus is attached to the lacrimal bone (medial check ligament) and the lateral rectus to the zygomatic bone (lateral check ligament). There are also check ligaments restricting the vertical movements but the expansions of these muscles are thinner and less distinct than those of the horizontal recti muscles.
hyaloideocapsular ligament See ligament of Wieger.
ligament of Lockwood The lower part of the capsule of Tenon's capsule and parts of the tendons of the inferior rectus and oblique muscles which are thickened to form a hammock-like structure on which the eyeball rests.
palpebral ligament Strong connective tissue attaching the extremities of the tarsal plates of the upper and lower eyelids to the orbital margin. There are two sets: (1) the lateral palpebral ligament (lateral canthal tendon) about 7 mm long and 2.5 mm wide which constitutes the deeper portion of the lateral palpebral raphe of the orbicularis muscle and attaches the tarsal plates to the lateral orbital tubercle (Whitnall's tubercle) on the zygomatic bone and (2) the medial palpebral ligament (medial canthal tendon) which attaches the medial ends of the tarsal plates to the frontal process of the maxilla and another insertion into the posterior lacrimal crest. It lies anterior to the canaliculi and the lacrimal sac.
suspensory ligament A ligament whose principal function is to support another structure, e.g. ligament of Lockwood, the zonule of Zinn.
ligament of Wieger An attachment of the anterior surface of the vitreous humour to the posterior lens capsule in the shape of a ring about 8-9 mm in diameter. It forms a line called Egger's line. This adherence is strong in youth but weakens with age enabling intracapsular cataract extraction without pulling the vitreous. Syn. hyaloideocapsular ligament.
check ligament A strong band of connective tissue which leaves the surface of the sheath of the extraocular muscles and attaches to the surrounding tissues, so as to limit the action of the muscle. The medial rectus is attached to the lacrimal bone (medial check ligament) and the lateral rectus to the zygomatic bone (lateral check ligament). There are also check ligaments restricting the vertical movements but the expansions of these muscles are thinner and less distinct than those of the horizontal recti muscles.
hyaloideocapsular ligament See ligament of Wieger.
ligament of Lockwood The lower part of the capsule of Tenon's capsule and parts of the tendons of the inferior rectus and oblique muscles which are thickened to form a hammock-like structure on which the eyeball rests.
palpebral ligament Strong connective tissue attaching the extremities of the tarsal plates of the upper and lower eyelids to the orbital margin. There are two sets: (1) the lateral palpebral ligament (lateral canthal tendon) about 7 mm long and 2.5 mm wide which constitutes the deeper portion of the lateral palpebral raphe of the orbicularis muscle and attaches the tarsal plates to the lateral orbital tubercle (Whitnall's tubercle) on the zygomatic bone and (2) the medial palpebral ligament (medial canthal tendon) which attaches the medial ends of the tarsal plates to the frontal process of the maxilla and another insertion into the posterior lacrimal crest. It lies anterior to the canaliculi and the lacrimal sac.
suspensory ligament A ligament whose principal function is to support another structure, e.g. ligament of Lockwood, the zonule of Zinn.
ligament of Wieger An attachment of the anterior surface of the vitreous humour to the posterior lens capsule in the shape of a ring about 8-9 mm in diameter. It forms a line called Egger's line. This adherence is strong in youth but weakens with age enabling intracapsular cataract extraction without pulling the vitreous. Syn. hyaloideocapsular ligament.
Millodot: Dictionary of Optometry and Visual Science, 7th edition. © 2009 Butterworth-Heinemann
lig·a·ment
(lig'ă-mĕnt) [TA]1. Band or sheet of fibrous tissue connecting two or more bones, cartilages, or other structures, or serving as support for fasciae or muscles.
2. Fold of peritoneum supporting any of the abdominal viscera.
3. Any structure resembling a ligament without such function.
Synonym(s): ligamentum.
Synonym(s): ligamentum.
[L. ligamentum, a band, bandage]
Medical Dictionary for the Dental Professions © Farlex 2012
Patient discussion about ligament
Q. Is ligament heating better than an arthroscopic surgery? I have a partial tear in my left knee (acl) and they wanna operate on me. I heard heating it can solve the problem. is it true?
A. i never heard of "ligament heating" from what i know- ligament has limited ability to regenerate. if partially torn it may need only physiotherapy and care. but if it's torn more then it can heal by itself- you need surgery. this is why there's orthopedics- to evaluate the situation, give you a diagnosis and the recommended treatment. it's always good to second guess because they are only human. you can ask other orthopedics and see what they say.
Q. I did a bad movement with my knee during a ball game. How can I know if I damaged the knee ligaments? 4 hours ago I played basketball. I did a great jump but when I landed I felt a very sharp knee pain? How can I know if I damaged the ligaments there?
A. The only way to know for sure is to check! Can estimate the severity of the problem. Is your knee red? Is it hot? Is it swollen? Does the pain have the same severity or does the pain increase with time? If you answered one of those questions with a 'yes' several hours after the injury, you should probably talk to your GP
More discussions about ligamentThis content is provided by iMedix and is subject to iMedix Terms. The Questions and Answers are not endorsed or recommended and are made available by patients, not doctors.