lec 5 ligaments

What is a ligament?

Ligaments connect bone to bone.

What are ligaments made out of?

Ligaments are made of dense regular connective tissue (NOT muscle tissue).

Why do ligaments take a long time to heal if torn?

Ligaments take a long time to heal because they do not have blood vessels of their own, unlike bones. They do have enough fibroblasts and collagen, though, so they eventually can heal.

What is a tear in a ligament called?

A torn ligament is called a sprain.

What is a tear in a muscle called?

A torn muscle is called a strain.

What will heal faster – a sprain or strain?

A strain will heal faster because it has a better blood supply.

What are menisci and what type of tissue are they?

Menisci are fibrocartilage pads in some joints (like the knee) that act as a guide for movement of joints to prevent unwanted movement.

What are ligaments outside a joint capsule called?

Ligaments outside a joint capsule are called extracapsular ligaments, e.g. Patellar ligament and Medial/Lateral collateral ligaments.

What are ligaments inside a joint capsule called?

Ligaments inside a joint capsule are called intracapsular ligaments.

What structures are most important in keeping the knee from moving medially to laterally?

The collateral ligaments are the most important structures in keeping the knee from moving medially to laterally.