Joints and Ligaments of the Pelvis
| Joint or Ligament | Description | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| pubic symphysis | symphysis | midline joint uniting the bodies of the pubic bones |
| sacroiliac joint | synovial, plane | connects ala of sacrum to auricular surface of ilium; fibrous capsule reinforced by dorsal & ventral sacroiliac ligaments |
| sacrospinous ligament | syndesmosis | connects ischial spine to lateral surface of sacrum & coccyx; together with sacrotuberous ligament, converts greater & lesser ischiadic (sciatic) notches into greater & lesser ischiadic (sciatic) foramina |
| sacrotuberous ligament | syndesmosis | connects ischial tuberosity to lateral surface of sacrum & coccyx; together with sacrospinous ligament, converts greater & lesser ischiadic (sciatic) notches into greater & lesser ischiadic (sciatic) foramina |
| iliolumbar ligament | syndesmosis | connects transverse process of L5 to iliac crest |
Joints and Ligaments of the Lower Limb
| Joint or Ligament | Description | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| acetabular labrum | fibrocartilage | fibrocartilage forming rim of acetabulum; deepens the acetabulum |
| transverse acetabular ligament | bridges the acetabular notch; forms a bridge over the artery in the ligament of the femoral head (ligamentum capitis femoris) | |
| ligament of the femoral head | intracapsular ligament connecting transverse acetabular ligament with fovea capitis femoris; also known as: ligamentum capitis femoris | |
| ligamentum capitis femoris | intracapsular ligament connecting transverse acetabular ligament with fovea capitis femoris; also known as: ligament of the femoral head | |
| pubofemoral ligament | capsular ligament of hip joint connecting superior pubic ramus to medial surface of femoral neck | |
| iliofemoral ligament | capsular ligament of the hip joint connecting anterior inferior iliac spine to intertrochanteric line | |
| ischiofemoral ligament | capsular ligament of the hip joint connecting body of ischium to posterior femoral neck | |
| zona orbicularis | fibers of hip joint capsule encircling femoral neck | |
| hip joint | synovial | acetabulum of os coxae articulates with femoral head; reinforced by capsular ligaments (iliofemoral, pubofemoral, ischiofemoral, zona orbicularis) and containing acetabular labrum & ligamentum capitis femoris |
| knee joint | synovial | femoral condyles articulate with tibial condyles; reinforced by intracapsular ligaments (anterior cruciate & posterior cruciate), a capsular ligament (tibial collateral ligament), and an extracapsular ligament (fibular collateral ligament); contains medial & lateral menisci |
| patellar ligament | tendon | connects quadriceps femoris muscle group to the tibial tuberosity; patella is a sesamoid bone within the quadriceps tendon |
| tibial collateral ligament | capsular ligament of the knee joint connecting medial epicondyle of femur with medial surface of medial tibial condyle; its attachment to the medial meniscus is clinically relevant | |
| fibular collateral ligament | extracapsular ligament, not part of the fibrous capsule of the knee; connects lateral epicondyle of femur with fibular head | |
| anterior cruciate ligament | intracapsular ligament connecting anterior aspect of intercondylar eminence of tibia with medial surface of lateral femoral condyle | |
| posterior cruciate ligament | intracapsular ligament connecting posterior aspect of intercondylar eminence of tibia with lateral surface of medial femoral condyle | |
| medial meniscus | fibrocartilage | intra-articular disc within knee joint between medial femoral condyle & medial tibial condyle; attached to tibial collateral ligament, coronary ligament, & intercondylar eminence |
| lateral meniscus | fibrocartilage | intra-articular disc within knee joint between lateral femoral condyle & lateral tibial condyle; attached to coronary ligament & intercondylar eminence |
| posterior meniscofemoral ligament | intracapsular ligament connects posterior part of lateral meniscus with lateral surface of medial femoral condyle | |
| suprapatellar bursa | bursa | superior extension of the synovial membrane of the knee joint; passes deep to the quadriceps tendon |
| prepatellar bursa | bursa | subcutaneous bursa overlying patella |
| infrapatellar bursa, superficial | bursa | subcutaneous bursa overlying patellar tendon |
| infrapatellar bursa, deep | bursa | bursa lying between patellar tendon & tibia |
| interosseous membrane of leg | syndesmosis | connects shafts of tibia & fibula |
| interosseous ligaments of foot | intracapsular ligaments connecting adjacent tarsal bones | |
| ankle joint | synovial, hinge | articulation between distal end of tibia, medial malleolus, lateral malleolus and talus; reinforced by deltoid ligament (anterior tibiotalar, tibionavicular, tibiocalcaneal, posterior tibiotalar), anterior talofibular, calcaneofibular & posterior talofibular ligaments |
| anterior tibiofibular ligament | connects distal ends of tibia & fibula anteriorly | |
| posterior tibiofibular ligament | connects distal ends of tibia & fibula posteriorly | |
| deltoid ligament | connects medial malleolus with talus, navicular & calcaneus; its four parts arranged from anterior to posterior: anterior tibiotalar, tibionavicular, tibiocalcaneal, posterior tibiotalar; also known as: medial ligament of ankle | |
| anterior tibiotalar ligament | part of deltoid ligament connecting medial malleolus with talus | |
| posterior tibiotalar ligament | part of deltoid ligament connecting medial malleolus with talus posteriorly | |
| tibiocalcaneal ligament | part of deltoid ligament connecting medial malleolus with sustentaculum tali | |
| tibionavicular ligament | part of deltoid ligament connecting medial malleolus with navicular | |
| anterior talofibular ligament | connects lateral malleolus with talus anterolaterally | |
| posterior talofibular ligament | connects lateral malleolus with talus posterolaterally | |
| calcaneofibular ligament | connects lateral malleolus with calcaneus | |
| plantar calcaneonavicular ligament | syndesmosis | connects sustentaculum tali with inferior surface of navicular; also known as: spring ligament |
| plantar calcaneocuboid ligament | syndesmosis | connects calcaneus & cuboid inferiorly |
| long plantar ligament | syndesmosis | connects calcaneus with cuboid & bases of lateral 3 metatarsals |
| tarsometatarsal joints | synovial | reinforced by dorsal & plantar ligaments |
| metatarsophalangeal joints (5) | synovial | chondyloid joint connecting head of metatarsal with proximal phalanx; reinforced by collateral ligaments |
| longitudinal arch of the foot | combination of synovial joints & syndesmoses | passes from calcaneus to talus to navicular to cuneiforms to metatarsals; supported by plantar calcaneonavicular ligament & many other ligaments; supported by tendons of tibialis anterior & tibialis posterior mm. |
| transverse arch of the foot | combination of synovial joints & syndesmoses | passes through distal row of tarsal bones; supported by shape of bones and many ligaments; supported by tendons of fibularis longus & tibialis anterior & tibialis posterior mm. |