Popliteofibular ligament
Ligamentum popliteofibulare
A short, strong band at the back and outer side of the knee joining the popliteus tendon to the fibular head.
At a glance
- English
- Popliteofibular ligament
- Latin (TA2)
- Ligamentum popliteofibulare
- System
- Ligament
- Region
- Lower limb
- Side
- Paired, left and right
About the popliteofibular ligament
The popliteofibular ligament is a short but strong band in the posterolateral corner of the knee. It leaves the tendon of popliteus near the point where the muscle becomes tendon, behind the outer femoral condyle, and runs downwards and laterally to the fibular head, fixing to the back and inner side of its apex (the styloid process).
It has two divisions, an anterior and a posterior, which together form a firm link between the fibula and the popliteus tendon. Through this link the fibula is tied indirectly to the femur, because the popliteus tendon itself attaches to a groove on the lateral femoral condyle. The ligament lies deep to the fibular collateral ligament and the arcuate popliteal ligament, inside the network of structures at the outer back of the knee.
It is one of the main static stabilisers of the posterolateral corner, together with the fibular collateral ligament and the popliteus tendon. Its chief action is to resist external rotation of the tibia on the femur. It also helps to restrain varus angulation and backward movement of the tibia, working alongside the posterior cruciate ligament.
Although small and once overlooked, the ligament is now recognised as important. When the posterolateral corner is torn, often with cruciate injuries, the knee rotates outwards too much and feels unstable on turning. Reconstruction techniques for this corner are designed to restore the popliteofibular ligament as well as the fibular collateral ligament, because failing to address it can lead to persistent instability and failure of a cruciate graft.
Attachments and function
- Attaches from
- The popliteus tendon near its musculotendinous junction.
- Attaches to
- The back and inner side of the fibular apex (styloid process).
- Function
- Resists external rotation of the tibia and helps restrain varus and backward displacement at the knee.
Anthromica
See the popliteofibular 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.
