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Anatomy & Physiology vocabulary · Muscles, Joints and Movement

Ligament

Meaning in anatomy & physiology, with examples

/ˈlɪɡəmənt/nounCore term

In anatomy & physiology, ligament means: A tough band of fibrous connective tissue that connects one bone to another and keeps a joint stable.

In Turkish: bağ, ligament

How it is used

Common in orthopedics and sports medicine: a ligament can be sprained, torn or ruptured. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee is a well-known example. Turkish clinicians use both 'bağ' and 'ligament'.

Example sentences

  1. He tore his anterior cruciate ligament during a basketball game.

  2. Ankle sprains usually involve the ligaments on the lateral side of the ankle.

Common collocations

  • anterior cruciate ligament
  • collateral ligament
  • torn ligament
  • ligament injury
  • tendonA strong cord of fibrous tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone, so that when the muscle contracts it pulls on the bone.
  • jointA place where two or more bones meet. Some joints, like the knee, move freely; others, like those between the bones of the skull, hardly move at all.
  • boneThe hard, living tissue that forms the skeleton, and each organ made of it. Bones support the body, protect organs, store calcium and contain the marrow that makes blood cells.
  • connective tissueTissue that supports, connects and protects other tissues. Its cells are spread out in a matrix of fibers and ground substance; bone, cartilage, fat, tendons and blood are all types of it.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Muscles, Joints and Movement

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.