Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Musculoskeletal System Physiology: Ligament Tissue Physiology

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
General Orthopaedics and Basic Science

Part of the book series: Orthopaedic Study Guide Series ((ORTHSTUDY))

  • 945 Accesses

Abstract

Human ligaments are dense bands of collagenous tissue (fibers) that bind bone ends, spanning joints. They may be internal or external to the joint capsule ensuring additional stability to articular geometry and active muscular function. They vary in size, shape, and orientation according to their location and bony attachments.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Chowdhury P, Matyas JR, Frank CB. The “epiligament” of the rabbit medial collateral ligament: a quantitative morphological study. Connect Tissue Res. 1991;27:33–50.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Duthon VB, Barea C, Abrassart S, Fasel JH, Fritschy D, Ménétrey J. Anatomy of the anterior cruciate ligament. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. Mar. 2006;14(3):204–13.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Zhu J, Zhang X, Ma Y, Zhou C, Ao Y. (2012) Ultrastructural and morphological characteristics of human anterior cruciate ligament and hamstring tendons. Anat Rec (Hoboken)Sep;295(9):1430–1436. https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.22527.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Amiel D, Constance C, Lee J. Repetitive motion disorders of the upper extremity: effect of loading on metabolism and repair of tendons and ligaments. Rosemont, Illinois: Am Acad Orthop Surg; 1995. p. 213–7.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Frank CB. Ligament structure, physiology and function. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2004;4(2):199–201.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Solomonow M. Ligaments: a source of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2004;14:49–60.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Hauser RA, Dolan EE, Phillips HJ, Newlin AC, Moore RE, Woldin BA. Ligament injury and healing: a review of current clinical diagnostics and therapeutics. Open Rehab J. 2013;6:1–20.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Duthon VB, Barea C, Abrassart S, Fasel JH, Fritschy D, Menetrey J. Anatomy of the anterior cruciate ligament. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2005;14:204–13.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Murray MM, Spector M. Fibroblast distribution in the anteromedial bundle of the human anterior cruciate ligament: the presence of alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive cells. J Orthop Res. 1999;17:18–27.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Jiang Q, Lin G, Qu M, Cui G, Teng H. Cartilage-like phenomenon in the anterior cruciate ligament. Chin Med Sci J. 2001;16:103–6.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Wang YJ, Ao YF. Histologic study of semitendinosus tendon autograft used for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in a rabbit model. Chin J Sports Med. 2004;23:609–12.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Lo IK, Chi S, Ivie T, Frank CB, Rattner JB. The cellular matrix: a feature of tensile bearing dense soft connective tissues. Histol Histopathol. 2002;17:523–37.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Benjamin M, Ralphs JR. The cell and developmental biology of tendons and ligaments. Int Rev Cytol. 2000;196:85–91.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Ilic MZ, Carter P, Tyndall A, Dudhia J, Handley CJ. Proteoglycans and catabolic products of proteoglycans present in ligament. Biochem J. 2005;385:381–8.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Reed CC, Iozzo RV. The role of decorin in collagen fibrillogenesis and skin homeostasis. Glycoconj J. 2002;19:249–55.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Benjamin M, Toumi H, Ralphs JR, Bydder G, Best TM, Milz S. Where tendons and ligaments meet bone: attachment sites (‘entheses’) in relation to exercise and/or mechanical load. J Anat. 2006;208:471–90.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Woo S, Buckwalter J. Injury and repair of musculoskeletal soft tissue. Park Ridge, IL: AAOS; 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Butler DL, Grood ES, Noyes FR, Zernicke RF. Biomechanics of ligaments and tendons. Exercise Sports Sci Rev. 1978;6:125–81.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Menard D, Stanish WD. The aging athlete. Am J Sports Med. 1989;17(2):187–96.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. West RV, Fu FH. Soft-tissue physiology and repair. In: Vaccaro AR, editor. Orthopaedic knowledge update 8. Chapter 2. Rosemont, IL: AAOS; 2005. p. 15–27.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Woo SL, Gomez MA, Sites TJ, Newton PO, Orlando CA, Akeson WH. The biomechanical and morphological changes in the medial collateral ligament of the rabbit after immobilization and remobilization. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1987;69(8):1200–11.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Woo SL, Abramowitch SD, Kilger R, Liang R. Biomechanics of knee ligaments: injury, healing, and repair. J Biomech. 2006;2(39):1–20.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Lu D, Solomonow M, Zhou B, Baratta RV, Li L. Frequency dependent changes in neuromuscular responses to cyclic lumbar flexion. J Biomech. 2004;37(6):845–55.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. McGill S, Brown S. Creep response of the lumbar spine to prolonged full flexion. Clin Biomech. 1992;7:43–6.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Ekstrom L, Kaigle A, Hult E, Holm S, Rostedt M, Hansson T. Intervertebral disc response to cyclic loading: An animal model. Proc Inst MechEngr. 1996;209:249–58.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Crisco J, Chelikani S, Brown R. Effects of exercise on ligamentous stiffness in the wrist. J Hand Surg. 1997;22A:44–8.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Skinner H, Barrack R. Joint position sense in the normal and pathologic knee joint. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 1991;1:180–90.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre Albert-Trillat, CHU Lyon Croix-Rousse, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France

    Simone Cerciello & Philippe Neyret

  2. Casa Di Cura Villa Betania, Rome, Italy

    Simone Cerciello

  3. University Lyon 1, Lyon, France

    Philippe Neyret

Authors
  1. Simone Cerciello
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Philippe Neyret
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Nikolaos K. Paschos

  2. Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculo-Skeletal Science, U.C.London, Stanmore, Middlesex, UK

    George Bentley

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Cerciello, S., Neyret, P. (2019). Musculoskeletal System Physiology: Ligament Tissue Physiology. In: Paschos, N., Bentley, G. (eds) General Orthopaedics and Basic Science. Orthopaedic Study Guide Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92193-8_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92193-8_8

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-92191-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-92193-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation