Descending part of iliofemoral ligament
Pars descendens ligamenti iliofemoralis
The medial, nearly vertical limb of the Y-shaped iliofemoral ligament, running from the ilium to the lower intertrochanteric line.
At a glance
- English
- Descending part of iliofemoral ligament
- Latin (TA2)
- Pars descendens ligamenti iliofemoralis
- System
- Ligament
- Region
- Lower limb
- Side
- Paired, left and right
About the descending part of iliofemoral ligament
The iliofemoral ligament lies over the front of the hip joint and is the strongest ligament in the body. It is shaped like an inverted Y. Its stem is attached to the lower part of the anterior inferior iliac spine and the adjoining rim of the acetabulum, and from there two limbs fan out to the intertrochanteric line of the femur. The descending part is the medial limb. It runs almost straight down to the lower part of the intertrochanteric line, near the lesser trochanter, while the other limb, the transverse part, runs more horizontally to the upper end of the line.
The descending part is a thickening of the fibrous capsule rather than a separate band. On its medial side lies the pubofemoral ligament, and between the two is a thinner area of capsule over which the tendon of iliopsoas passes on its way to the lesser trochanter. A bursa beneath this tendon sometimes communicates with the joint cavity.
The ligament becomes taut as the hip extends. In upright standing it stops the pelvis tipping backwards on the femoral heads, so that a person can stand with little muscular effort by resting their weight on it. Its strength means it usually survives hip dislocation, and it is used as a fulcrum when a dislocated hip is reduced. In a posterior dislocation the intact ligament helps hold the limb in its typical bent, adducted and inwardly rotated position.
Attachments and function
- Attaches from
- Stem of the iliofemoral ligament: lower part of the anterior inferior iliac spine and adjoining acetabular rim.
- Attaches to
- Lower part of the intertrochanteric line of the femur.
- Function
- Tightens in extension of the hip, limiting hyperextension and letting the body hang on the ligament when standing upright.
- Nerve supply
- Articular branches to the front of the hip joint from the femoral nerve, with a contribution from the obturator nerve.
- Blood supply
- Branches of the medial and lateral circumflex femoral arteries.
Anthromica
See the descending part of iliofemoral ligament 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.
