What Do Ligaments Connect?

Ligament most frequently describes a band of thick regular connective tissue packages made of collagenous fibers, with bundles safeguarded by thick irregular connective tissue sheaths. Ligaments connect bones to other bones to form joints, while tendons connect bone to muscle. Some ligaments limit the movement of expressions or prevent particular motions altogether.

Role of Ligament

A ligament is the fibrous connective tissue that connects bones to other bones. It is also referred to as articular ligament, articular larua, fibrous ligament, or true ligament. Other ligaments in the body include the:

• Peritoneal ligament: a fold of peritoneum or other membranes.
• Fetal remnant ligament: the remnants of a fetal tubular structure.
• Gum ligament: a group of fibers that connect the cementum of teeth to the surrounding alveolar bone.

Ligaments resemble tendons and fasciae as they are all made of connective tissue. The distinctions in them are in the connections that they make: ligaments connect one bone to another bone, tendons connect muscle to bone, and fasciae connect muscles to other muscles. These are all found in the skeletal system of the body. Ligaments can not usually be restored naturally; however, there are gum ligament stem cells located near the periodontal ligament which are associated with the adult regeneration of gum ligament.

• Capsular ligaments are part of the articular capsule that surrounds synovial joints. They act as mechanical supports. Extra-capsular ligaments join together in consistency with the other ligaments and provide joint stability. Intra-capsular ligaments, which are much less typical, also offer stability however permit a far bigger variety of motion. Cruciate ligaments are paired ligaments through a cross.
• Ligaments are viscoelastic. They gradually strain when under tension and go back to their initial shape when the stress is gotten rid of. However, they can not retain their initial shape when extended past a particular point or for an extended period of time. This is one reason dislocated joints should be set as rapidly as possible: if the ligaments extend excessive, then the joint will be deteriorated, ending up being prone to future dislocations. Professional athletes, gymnasts, dancers, and martial artists carry out extending exercises to extend their ligaments, making their joints more supple.

The term hypermobility refers to people with more-elastic ligaments, permitting their joints to extend and twist even more; this is sometimes still called double-jointedness.

The effect of a broken ligament can be instability of the joint. Not all damaged ligaments need surgery, but, if surgery is needed to stabilise the joint, the damaged ligament can be fixed. Scar tissue may prevent this. If it is not possible to fix the broken ligament, other treatments such as the Brunelli procedure can remedy the instability. Instability of a joint can gradually result in use of the cartilage and eventually to osteoarthritis.