Back to Search
Start Over
The prevalence and morphological characteristics of the knee anterolateral ligament in a Chinese population
- Source :
- J Anat
- Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- The anterolateral ligament, a distinct structure connecting the lateral femoral epicondyle to the anterolateral proximal tibia, is gaining attention because of its possible function in ensuring internal rotational stability of the tibia. To study the prevalence and precise anatomical characteristics of the anterolateral ligament and its relationship to adjacent structures in a Chinese population, a total of 20 amputated knee specimens were collected. The anterolateral regions of the knees underwent detailed surgical dissection, followed by precise measurement of the anterolateral ligament and its adjacent structures. Histological analysis of the anterolateral ligament was performed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. A thin soft tissue deep to the iliotibial band running obliquely across the lateral fibula ligament and connecting the lateral head of the gastrocnemius with the tibia, termed the 'gastrocnemius-tibial ligament' or superficial layer of the anterolateral ligament, was observed in 18 of the 20 specimens, corresponding to a prevalence of 90%. Furthermore, a well-defined anterolateral ligament deep to the gastrocnemius-tibial ligament and distinct from the lateral fibula ligament was found in all 20 knees (prevalence, 100%). The independent gastrocnemius-tibial ligament and anterolateral ligament had separate femoral originations at the lateral head of the gastrocnemius and the lateral femoral epicondyle, and the same osseous tibial insertion at the midpoint between Gerdy's tubercle and the most lateral aspect of the fibular head. H&E staining showed that both the anterolateral ligament and gastrocnemius-tibial ligament were ligaments consisting of collagenous bundles. In the Chinese Han population, the gastrocnemius-tibial ligament and anterolateral ligament may form a complex at the anterolateral aspect of the knee, which is likely involved in ensuring the internal rotational stability of the tibia.
- Subjects :
- Anterolateral ligament
musculoskeletal diseases
Adult
Male
Histology
Knee Joint
Dissection (medical)
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
Asian People
medicine
Humans
Tibia
Fibula
Molecular Biology
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Aged
030222 orthopedics
Chinese population
business.industry
Anatomic Variation
Soft tissue
030229 sport sciences
Cell Biology
Anatomy
Original Articles
Middle Aged
medicine.disease
musculoskeletal system
medicine.anatomical_structure
Ligaments, Articular
Ligament
Female
Epicondyle
business
human activities
Developmental Biology
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14697580
- Volume :
- 233
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of anatomy
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....23a60da670231f504990c86547f981af