Ligaments For Anatomy Exam 1
1) Vertebral Column:
Anterior Longitudinal Ligament: Runs up Ant. Side of Vertebral bodies.
Posterior Longitudinal Ligament: Runs up Post. Side of Vertebral bodies.
o Becomes Tectoral Membrane.
Ligament Flava: Connects Lamina of Adjacent Vertebrae.
Intertransverse Lig: Connects transverse processes of adjacent vertebrae.
Interspinous Lig: Connects spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae.
Supraspinous Lig: Runs continuously over spinous processes of vertebrae.
o Becomes Nuchal Ligament.
Facet Joints: Inferior articular to superior articular processes.
Transverse Ligament: Holds dens to atlas.
o Anterior and Posterior Longitudinal bands make this “X-Shaped”
Alar Ligaments: Connect dens to skull.
Posterior and Anterior Atlantooccipital Membranes: Close off space
around atlas and skull.
Posterior and anterior Atlantoaxial Membranes: Closes off space around
atlas and axis.
2) Shoulder and Rotator Cuff: Ball and Socket Joint. Most mobile joint in body.
Glenohumeral Ligaments: Glenoid cavity of scapula to head of humerus.
Coracohumeral Ligaments: Coracoid process to head of humerus.
Coracoacromial Ligaments: Coracoid process to acromion.
Tendon of Biceps Brachii: Long head of biceps brachii to Glenoid labrum.
Acromioclavicular Ligament: Acromion to clavicle.
o Damaged in shoulder separation.
Coracoclavicular Ligament: Coracoid process to clavicle.
o Damaged in shoulder separation.
Sternoclavicular Ligament: Sternum to clavicle.
o Only ligament joining shoulder to axial skeleton.
3) Elbow Joint: Hinge Joint.
Capsular Ligament: Surrounds elbow joint.
Radial/Lateral Collateral Ligament: Lateral epicondyle of humerus to
Annular Ligament.
Ulnar/Medial Collateral Ligament: Medial epicondyle of humerus to
olecranon and coronoid process.
4) Wrist Joint: Flexion, extension, adduction, and abduction.
Radial Collateral Ligament: Radial side of wrist joint.
o Ulnar deviation puts stress on Radial Collateral Ligament.
Ulnar Collateral Ligament: Ulnar side of wrist joint.
o Radial deviation puts stress of Ulnar Collateral Ligament.
5) Hip Joint: Lateral and medial rotation, extension and flexion of thigh.
Iliofemoral Ligament: Ilium to head of femur
o “Y-Shaped.” Locks hips in place. Paraplegics can use to extend hips.
Pubofemoral Ligament: Pubic bone to head of femur.
o Blends with Iliofemoral ligament
Ischiofemoral Ligament: Ischium (Just below acetabulum) to head of femur.
6) Head of Femur:
Ligament to Head of Femur: Head of femur and to acetabulum notch.
o So large that it has a small artery running through it.
7) Knee Joint: Flexion and extension of leg.
Quadriceps Tendon: Tendons of Quadriceps Muscles to Patella Ligament.
Patellar Ligament: Continuation of quadriceps tendon to tibial tuberosity.
Capsular Ligament: Surrounds Knee Joint.
Fibular/Lateral Collateral Ligament: Fibular side of capsular ligament.
o Valgus Force puts stress on this ligament.
Tibial/Medial Collateral Ligament: Tibial side of capsular ligament.
o Varus Force puts stress on this ligament.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament: Originates at Anterior intercondylar area of
knee, and passes posterosuperiorly to femur.
o Weaker than PCL. Prevents posterior displacement of femur on tibia.
Posterior Cruciate Ligament: Originates at Posterior intercondylar area of
knee, and passes anterosuperiorly to femur.
o Stronger than ACL. Prevents anterior displacement of femur on tibia.
Fibrocartilage Discs of Knee:
o Medial Meniscus: “C-Shaped” Attached to Medial Collateral.
o Lateral Meniscus: “O-Shaped”
Unhappy Triad Injury: Damage to Anterior Cruciate Ligament, Medial
Collateral Ligament, and Medial Meniscus, from a Valgus Force.
8) Ankle Joint: Allows only dorsiflexion and plantarflexion.
Medial Collateral/Deltoid Ligament: Medial Malleolus to Talus, Calcaneus,
and Navicular bones.
o Extremely Strong Ligament! Before you tear this ligament, you will
fracture your medial malleolus.
Lateral Collateral Ligaments:
o Anterior talofibular ligament: Lateral malleolus anteriorly to talus.
o Calcaneofibular ligament: Calcaneus to fibula.
o Posterior talofibular ligament: Lateral malleolus posteriorly to
talus.
9) Arches of Foot: Medial and lateral longitudinal arches, and transverse arch.
Plantar calcaneonavicular (Spring) Ligament: Calcaneus to Navicular
bone.
Long Plantar Ligament: Calcaneus to Cuboid bone.
Plantar Calcaneocuboid (Short Plantar) Ligament: Calcaneus to Cuboid
bone.
Plantar Aponeurosis: Superficial aponeurosis on plantar side of foot.
