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Ligament can be defined as a connective tissue that connects bone to bone. The name "ligament" comes from Latin, ligare meaning "to bind". In some joints such as the knee, a section of the ligament is surrounded by a joint capsule that provides better protection for ligaments. Ligaments also hold organs in the proper position within the abdomen, help to form blood clots, and support the heart valves. They are tough, fibrous bands of connective tissue that bind the bones together at joints. Ligaments help support the abdomen, pelvis (hip), and chest. They stabilize the knee, ankle, wrist, and thumb joints. They are extensive structures that can vary in texture and color from white to creamy yellow to orange in appearance. The human body is made up of over 7,000 different muscles and 696 bones which support the frame and protect vital organs.
Key Terms: Ligament, Connective Tissues, Types of Ligament, Tendons, Bones, Muscles, Fibrous Tissues, Collagenous Tissue, Joints
What is a Ligament?
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Ligament refers to any structure in the body made up of dense bundles of fibrous connective tissue that attaches bone to bone. Essentially, a ligament is a sturdy and flexible band of strong collagenous tissue wound around a joint. They are found in areas where there is supposed to be movement, i.e. between bones or between bone and muscle, etc.
Ligament
Structure of Ligament
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Ligaments are strong and tough bands of connective tissue that offer stability between two bones. These are the tough fibrous tissues joining bone to bone. A ligament helps to control the range of movement between two bones, like a splint on a fractured bone. The Ligament is a stealthy two-wheeler that conforms to our movement. The injected, composite shell takes the shape of the rider, providing an array of light, stiff and flexible components that are easy to customize.
Ligaments are often perceived as tough, fibrous tissues that connect bones together. In fact, this stability does not change with more complex activities such as walking or running. The ligaments that make up this skeletal system are an intricate network of tough fibrous tissues that connect bone to bone and provide stability. They are all different sizes and can range in color from white to orange, depending on their collagen density.
They are extensive structures that can vary in texture and color from white to creamy yellow to orange in appearance. They consist of many layers of collagen fibers that cross a joint where the main function is to control movement, stabilize a joint and limit the range of movement.
Structure of a Ligament
Also Read: Difference Between Ligaments and Tendons
Functions of Ligament
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Some of the important functions performed by ligaments are:
- Ligaments are bands of tissue that connect bones together to keep joints stable.
- Our ligaments make sure our joints move in the direction they were meant to move.
- They also hold bones together, make sure that joints don’t twist, stabilize muscles and bones and prevent bones from dislocating.
- Different ligaments connect different parts of the body. For example, our knee has four ligaments — the anterior cruciate ligament, the posterior cruciate ligament, the medial collateral ligament, and the lateral collateral ligament — that keep it from moving side to side or backward.
- Ligaments also hold the uterus in place in a woman’s pelvis. Additionally, they connect the liver, intestine, and stomach and hold them in place.
- Ligaments provide stability to our joints and hold muscles together. Like any other part of our body, ligaments need to be kept strong and healthy.
- Ligaments are very strong but don’t stretch as muscles do.
- Ligaments come in many different shapes and sizes. Some ligaments can be seen while others cannot.
- Ligaments are strong, soft bands that connect stationary bones to muscles and stabilize them.
- Ligaments don’t allow joints to move past their normal range of motion. They also keep tendons from sliding over bone.
Types of Ligament
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There are mainly three types of ligaments are discussed below:
Articular Ligament
Articular ligaments are anatomical structures that are present in synovial joints to provide the stability for smooth functioning. The cruciate ligament is a ligament found in the form of a cross, and it is positioned parallel to the anterior and posterior crucial ligaments. Articular Ligaments are soft tissue structures that connect one bone to another.
- It provides support and stability of joints by limiting mobility between bones.
- The function of articular ligaments is to limit the range of this joint and provide stability.
- They are part of the capsule of the synovial joint and also provide mechanical reinforcements.
- Cruciate ligaments are paired ligaments that are in the form of a cross.
- It is a thick band of fibrous connective tissue which connects bone to bone.
- It is basically divided into layers: the inner layer is called an intra-articular ligament. The outer layer is called an Extra-articular ligament.
- Injuries to the articular ligaments can result from pulled or torn ligaments, which causes pain and dysfunction in joints.
Articular Ligament
Peritoneal Ligament
The peritoneum is a thin, pleated membrane that forms the inner lining of the abdomen and covers most of the intra-abdominal organs. The word "peritoneum" comes from Greek "peritons", which means "around the gut". The peritoneal ligaments consist of folds of the peritoneum, which bind certain structures together.
- Folds of the peritoneum are referred to as ligaments; a term that comes from the old Latin meaning "to fasten." Ligaments are strong bands of connective tissue that join bone to bone or bone to the cartilage at a joint and provide support and stability. These ligaments are called a variety of names based on their location and characteristics.
- The peritoneum is a serous membrane that forms the lining of the abdominal cavity and covers most of the viscera (internal organs).
- In humans, it consists of two layers. The visceral peritoneum is attached to most of the anterior body wall and all internal organs with the exception of the lungs, parts of the pancreas, and arteries. The parietal peritoneum is attached to the posterior body wall and usually does not come into contact with any of the internal organs.
- The peritoneum helps to reduce friction between adjacent structures within the abdomen such as between the walls of the abdomen (parietal peritoneum), or between adjacent structures such as between the uterus and the broad ligament (vulvar peritoneum).
Peritoneal Ligament
Fetal Remnant Ligament
The fetal remnant ligaments are the remains of what were some of the most important fetal structures for protection. These tubular, cord-like structures have a limited lifespan during the fetal period after which they close up and turn into cord-like structures and then dissolve naturally in the body. Fetal remnants are the vital elements of certain essential components like the spine, bony pelvic crest, and tip of the coccyx.
- Fetal remnant ligaments are the types of velvety, soft tubular structures found in certain portions of the fetus's body. They are called so as well because most of them close up and turned into cord-like structures after being formed during the fetal periods.
- These structures were found to be present in the joints of the heads where they might serve as an important source of nutrients to those connective tissues of the head that require extra care.
- These structures connect various bones, organs, and muscles in the human body tissue and they cannot be regenerated even if there comes a new technology that could have done it.
- They were first discovered during the fetal period but shrink and turn into tendon-like structures after birth.
- Fetal remnant ligaments would assist movement among other functions, especially in the joints of the human body.
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Things to Remember
- A ligament refers to a dense bundle of fibrous connective tissue that attaches bone to bone.
- The ligament is a sturdy and flexible band of strong collagenous tissue wound around a joint.
- They are found in areas where there is supposed to be movement, i.e. between bones or between bone and muscle, etc.
- Some other examples would include tendons that attach muscle to bone and cartilage connecting bones to each other.
- Various connective tissues bind together, support, protect, strengthen, and insulate other tissue in the body.
- Soft connective tissues consist of protein fibers as well as a variety of cells arranged in a ground substance.
- Cartilage, bone, blood, and adipose tissue are specialized connective tissues. Cartilage and bone are both structural materials.
- Connective tissue covers all three types of tissues. Nervous tissue exerts the greatest amount of control over the response of the body.
- The human body is composed of billions of cells to perform various functions.
Sample Questions
Ques. What are the functions of ligaments? (3 Marks)
Ans. Ligament is a sturdy and flexible band of strong collagenous tissue wound around a joint. It provides stability to our joints and holds muscles together. Like any other part of our body, ligaments need to be kept strong and healthy. They are very strong but don’t stretch as muscles do. They are of many different shapes and sizes. Some ligaments can be seen while others cannot. They are strong, soft bands that connect stationary bones to muscles and stabilize them.
Ques. What is connective tissue? Explain its function. (5 Marks)
Ans. Connective tissue performs the function of packing material, binding one tissue or organ to another and it functions as a strong elastic rope. It works as skeletal support and shapes the body. It is the most common tissue of the organ systems of invertebrates and vertebrates. The connective tissues are divided into three subcategories according to their cellular composition as (1) Collagenous connecting tissues,(2) Elastin connective tissue, and (3) Mucous connective tissues.
- The cells present in connective tissue are called fibroblasts, blood cells, and leucocytes.
- Connective tissue is a type of simple or primitive tissue found in many animals.
- Fibrous connective tissue is as its name suggests, made of fibers and cells.
- Its functions include binding together other tissues and organs within the body.
- Elastic connective tissue helps us to move and bounce back into place. It's filled with a stretchy protein called elastin which has two ends – tiny bits that fit together like locks on either side of a door.
Ques. Difference between tendon and ligament? (5 Marks)
Ans. Ligaments are bands of tough, white, fibrous tissue that attach bone to bone. Ligaments limit the joint's range of motion to some degree. Tendons are similar to ligaments, but they connect muscle to bone. Tendons move and support muscles rather than hold bones together. Ligaments and tendons are structures that connect muscles to bones. Tendons are tougher than ligaments. Ligaments can be stretched, and they hold our bones in place while tendons connect two bones together.
A tendon is a type of strong, fibrous tissue that connects muscles to bone. Tendons are located in the fingers, arms, legs, and feet. Each tendon is surrounded by a sheath made of synovial tissue, which secretes a lubricating fluid that allows tendons to glide easily. Tendons do not contain any muscle fibers.
Ligaments connect the bones of one joint and move with them. They are located near or around joints and hold those bones together and keep them stable. Ligaments connect one bone to another. Tendons connect muscles to bones. These are similar issues, but they fulfill different jobs. Ligaments attach bone to bone, holding bones in place and keeping joints stable. Tendons get their name from "tender" which means "to stretch" in Latin. They are made of dense regular connective tissue that allows muscles to move the bone.
Ques. State the role of ligaments in the human body. (3 Marks)
Ans. It joins bones at the joints. Ligaments connect bones to other bones. It provides our joints with stability and holds muscles together. You can't see ligaments, but if you could they would look a lot like a rubber band. In other words, ligaments connect muscles and bones to keep them from moving too much and to keep our bodies stable. Ligaments can be seen under the skin and look like soft bands running in different directions. They are strongest at their outer ends and weakest in the middle or at their attachment site, where they are anchored to bones or muscles. The shape that they make is very important in determining the movement at a joint.
Ques. What are the major functions of hemoglobin? (5 Marks)
Ans. The function of the blood is to carry food, oxygen, and waste products around the body in addition to its important action in maintaining body temperature. The hemoglobin in the red blood cells transports oxygen from the lungs to the tissues (oxygenation of the blood) and returns carbon dioxide from the tissue back to the lungs for removal (deoxygenated blood).
It depends on the formation of a complex model with 4 globin molecules. Each of the four subunits has an iron atom in the center, which is responsible for the binding capacity of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is formed by different folds and co-operations between the four subunits.
Ques. What are the functions of Muscular tissue and Nervous tissue? (5 Marks)
Ans. Muscular tissue is a soft tissue made up of cells called muscle fibers. Muscle tissue allows an organism to move by contracting the fibers to create force. Nervous tissue is not actually a single type of cell in an organism but rather a collection of different types of cells that work together in some fashion. They help control and coordinate body activities, such as cognition and muscular activity.
Muscular and nervous tissues are the two ineluctable parts of the human body. They differ from each other in a multitude of ways including their origin, appearance, composition, and most importantly their functions. Muscular tissues and nervous tissues are different in their anatomical, physiological, and developmental aspects. Muscular tissues are involved in generating plasma membrane potential. In nervous tissues, microtubules provide a support system for cellular processes.
Ques. What is the Epithelial Tissue? (5 Marks)
Ans. Epithelial Tissues are membranous bound tissues, which line the surface and cover internal cavities and body surfaces. They also line hollow internal organs (for example the stomach or sinuses). They are composed of one or more layers of cells that cover the inner surface. The outermost layer is often the only part visible to the human eye, for instance lining our skin or lining our mouth. Epithelial tissues are made up of one or more layers of cells. They can be found on the inside and outside of our bodies. They protect organs and other structures within the body and act as a barrier between different tissues.
Epithelial tissues are one of the four types of tissues in the body. They form the skin, nails, the lining of most internal organs, and blood vessels. Epithelial tissue helps to form and protect organs in the body from injuries, germs, and infections, as well as fever when needed. The functions of epithelial tissue are not just limited to protecting organs however, it can also be used for absorbing nutrients and excreting waste.
Ques. What are Cell Junctions? (1 Mark)
Ans. Cell junctions are important structures found in most tissues and consist of junctional complexes. These small regions of tissue bind cells together.
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