Ligaments and Tendons

Flashcards about Load and Material Properties, Joint Structures, Function of Ligaments, Tendons and the SAID principle

What is the primary function of ligaments?

Provide stability to the joint.

What are the four main types of loading patterns that affect joint structures?

Tensile, Compression, Bending, and Torsion

What type of tissue primarily composes ligaments?

Dense, irregular connective tissue.

What type of collagen is predominantly found in ligaments?

Type I collagen.

What characteristic of ligaments affects their healing and adaptation capabilities?

Poor blood supply, which means they do not heal/repair well, and are slower to adapt to stresses, including exercise.

What factors determine the strength of a ligament under load?

Size and shape, Speed of loading, Remodel capabilities.

Ligaments are __ in nature.

Anisotropic.

What viscoelastic qualities do ligaments exhibit under normal loading?

Creep, stress relaxation and hysteresis.

What happens at a joint with a slow loading rate?

Bone is more likely to fail or break first via avulsions.

What happens at a joint with an increased loading rate?

Ligament is likely to rupture first as bone becomes stronger.

What are the effects of decreased load on ligaments?

Decreased strength and stiffness.

What is the primary function of tendons?

Attach muscle to bone or fascia.

What is the primary component of tendons?

Collagen (60% dw) including type I (III, IV, V, VI, XII, XIV)

How are the components of a tendon arranged to suit high tensile loading?

Parallel arrangement of the components to the long axis of the tendon.

Tendons are __, meaning they alter their structure and biological behaviors in response to the various mechanical loading conditions placed on them.

Mechano-responsive.

Compared to ligaments, do tendons contain more or less collagen and elastin?

Tendons contain more collagen and less elastin than ligaments.

What is failure in the middle of a ligament or tendon structure called?

A rupture.

What is failure at the bony attachment of a ligament or tendon called?

An avulsion.

According to the SAID principle, what happens when there is too little loading?

Cellular structures change to reflect lack of loading and lessens or changes the composition to adjust for the lower load.

According to the SAID principle, what happens when there is too much loading?

Injury to muscle, joints, ligaments, tendons and bone.