suspensory ligament

suspensory ligament

n.

A ligament that supports an organ or body part, especially a fibrous membrane that holds the lens of the eye in place.

suspensory ligament

[səspen′sərē]

Etymology: L, suspendere, to hang, ligare, to bind

any of a number of ligaments that help support an organ or body structure, such as the suspensory ligaments inside the eye that hold the lens in tension.

suspensory ligament

Any LIGAMENT from which an organ or bodily part hangs, or by which it is supported.

suspensory

1. serving to hold up a part.

2. a ligament, bone, muscle, bandage or sling for supporting a part.

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suspensory ligament

1. the modified interosseous muscle of the horse that arises from the palmar carpal ligament behind the knee (or the hock in the hindlimb) and suspends the pair of sesamoid bones behind the fetlock. The distal continuation of the ligament is composed of the cruciate, oblique and straight sesamoidian ligaments and the pair of extensor branches that unite with the common digital extensor tendon.

2. various other supporting ligaments.

suspensory ligament of the lens

delicate ligament suspending the lens from the ciliary body of the eye.

ovarian suspensory ligament

a peritoneal fold which forms the cranial limit to the mesovarium.

rupture of udder suspensory ligament

the medial attachment separates, the udder floor drops down and outwards so that the teats point laterally. The cow is difficult to milk, especially with a machine.