Fibular collateral ligament
Encyclopedia
The fibular collateral ligament (long external lateral ligament or lateral collateral ligament, LCL) is a ligament
located on the lateral (outer) side of the knee
, and thus belongs to the extrinsic knee ligaments and posterolateral corner of the knee.
, 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 is therefore less susceptible to injury.
Both collateral ligaments are taut when the knee joint is in extension. With the knee in flexion, the radius of curvatures of the condyles is decreased and the origin and insertions of the ligaments are brought closer together which make them lax. The pair of ligaments thus stabilize the knee joint in the coronal plane. Therefore damage and rupture of these ligaments can be diagnosed by examining the knee's mediolateral stability.
Immediately below its origin is the groove for the tendon of the Popliteus.
The greater part of its lateral surface is covered by the tendon of the Biceps femoris; the tendon, however, divides at its insertion into two parts, which are separated by the ligament.
Deep to the ligament are the tendon of the Popliteus, and the inferior lateral genicular vessels and nerve.
Ligament
In anatomy, the term ligament is used to denote any of three types of structures. Most commonly, it refers to fibrous tissue that connects bones to other bones and is also known as articular ligament, articular larua, fibrous ligament, or true ligament.Ligament can also refer to:* Peritoneal...
located on the lateral (outer) side of the knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
, and thus belongs to the extrinsic knee ligaments and posterolateral corner of the knee.
Structure
Rounded, more narrow and less broad than the medial collateral ligamentMedial collateral ligament
The medial collateral ligament of the knee is one of the four major ligaments of the knee. It is on the medial side of the knee joint in humans and other primates. It is also known as the tibial collateral ligament, or abbreviated as the MCL.- Structure :It is a broad, flat, membranous band,...
, the fibular collateral ligament stretches obliquely downward and backward from the lateral epicondyle
Lateral epicondyle of the femur
The lateral epicondyle of the femur, smaller and less prominent than the medial epicondyle, gives attachment to the fibular collateral ligament of the knee-joint. Directly below it is a small depression from which a smooth well-marked groove curves obliquely upward and backward to the posterior...
of the femur
Femur
The femur , or thigh bone, is the most proximal bone of the leg in tetrapod vertebrates capable of walking or jumping, such as most land mammals, birds, many reptiles such as lizards, and amphibians such as frogs. In vertebrates with four legs such as dogs and horses, the femur is found only in...
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
Lateral meniscus
The lateral meniscus, also called the external semilunar fibrocartilage, is a fibrocartilaginous band that spans the lateral side of the interior of the knee joint. It is one of two menisci of the knee, the other being the medial meniscus. It is nearly circular and covers a larger portion of the...
. Because of this, the lateral collateral ligament is more flexible than its medial fellow, and is therefore less susceptible to injury.
Both collateral ligaments are taut when the knee joint is in extension. With the knee in flexion, the radius of curvatures of the condyles is decreased and the origin and insertions of the ligaments are brought closer together which make them lax. The pair of ligaments thus stabilize the knee joint in the coronal plane. Therefore damage and rupture of these ligaments can be diagnosed by examining the knee's mediolateral stability.
Immediately below its origin is the groove for the tendon of the Popliteus.
The greater part of its lateral surface is covered by the tendon of the Biceps femoris; the tendon, however, divides at its insertion into two parts, which are separated by the ligament.
Deep to the ligament are the tendon of the Popliteus, and the inferior lateral genicular vessels and nerve.