Anterior ligament of fibular head
Ligamentum anterius capitis fibulae
Flat bands on the front of the upper tibiofibular joint, rising from the fibular head to the lateral tibial condyle.
At a glance
- English
- Anterior ligament of fibular head
- Latin (TA2)
- Ligamentum anterius capitis fibulae
- System
- Ligament
- Region
- Lower limb
- Side
- Paired, left and right
About the anterior ligament of fibular head
Just below the outer side of the knee, the head of the fibula meets the underside of the lateral tibial condyle at a small synovial joint, the proximal tibiofibular joint. This joint is separate from the knee itself, and its capsule is reinforced in front and behind by two ligaments. The anterior ligament is the front one.
It is made of two or three broad, flat bands. They start on the front of the fibular head and climb obliquely upwards and medially to the lateral tibial condyle, ending on its anterior face. The bands fuse with the joint's fibrous capsule, so in dissection they appear as thickenings of its front wall rather than separate cords.
Nearby structures make the region important. The tendon of biceps femoris and the fibular collateral ligament of the knee insert on the fibular head just behind and above the ligament, and the common fibular nerve winds round the neck of the fibula immediately below it. Some fibres of the long extensor and fibularis muscles of the leg arise in this area.
The proximal tibiofibular joint allows only small gliding and rotating movements, which accompany movements of the ankle as the fibula shifts to accommodate the talus. The anterior ligament limits these movements and keeps the fibular head seated against the tibia. Dislocation of this joint is uncommon; it usually follows a fall or twisting injury with the knee bent, and the fibular head is most often displaced forwards and outwards. Because of the nerve close by, such injuries can be followed by weakness in lifting the foot.
Attachments and function
- Attaches from
- The anterior surface of the fibular head.
- Attaches to
- The front of the lateral tibial condyle.
- Function
- Strengthens the front of the proximal tibiofibular joint capsule and restrains movement of the fibular head on the tibia.
- Nerve supply
- Articular branches of the common fibular nerve and its recurrent branch.
- Blood supply
- Branches of the anterior tibial recurrent and inferior lateral genicular arteries.
Anthromica
See the anterior ligament of fibular head where it really sits, with every layer of the body around it.
- Every layer, one body. Peel from muscle to bone, nerve, vessel and organ, and turn it any way.
- English and Latin. Every structure named the way your exam names it.
- Quiz until it sticks. Short drills on the structures you keep missing.
Free to start. No card.
