Medial collateral ligament
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{{Infobox Ligament |
Name = Medial collateral ligament |
Latin = ligamentum collaterale tibiale |
GraySubject = 93 |
GrayPage = 341 |
Image = Knee diagram.svg |
Caption = Diagram of the knee. (Medial collateral ligament labeled at center right.) |
From = [[medial condyle of femur]] |
To = [[medial condyle of tibia]] |
MeshName = Medial+Collateral+Ligament,+Knee |
MeshNumber = A02.513.514.162.600 |
DorlandsPre = l_09 |
DorlandsSuf = 12491979 |
}}
The '''medial collateral ligament''' of the [[knee]] is one of the four major [[ligament]]s of the knee. It is on the [[Human_anatomical_terms#Anatomical_directions|medial]] (inner) side of the knee joint in humans and other primates. It is also known as the '''tibial collateral ligament''', or abbreviated as the '''MCL'''.
It is a broad, flat, membranous band, situated slightly posterior on the medial side of the knee joint. It is attached proximally to the [[medial condyle of femur]] immediately below the [[adductor tubercle]]; below to the [[medial condyle of tibia|medial condyle of the tibia]] and medial surface of its body. It resists forces that would push the knee medially, which would otherwise produce [[valgus deformity]].
The fibers of the posterior part of the ligament are short and incline backward as they descend; they are inserted into the tibia above the groove for the [[semimembranosus]] muscle.
The anterior part of the ligament is a flattened band, about 10 [[centimetre]]s long, which inclines forward as it descends.
It is inserted into the medial surface of the body of the tibia about 2.5 centimetres below the level of the condyle.
Crossing on top of the lower part of the MCL is the [[pes anserinus (leg)|pes anserinus]], the joined tendons of the [[sartorius]], [[gracilis]], and [[semitendinosus]] muscles; a bursa is interposed between the two.
The MCL's deep surface covers the [[inferior medial genicular]] vessels and nerve and the anterior portion of the tendon of the [[semimembranosus]] muscle, with which it is connected by a few fibers; it is intimately adherent to the [[medial meniscus]].
Embryologically and phylogenically, the ligament represents the distal portion of the tendon of [[adductor magnus]] muscle. In lower animals, adductor magnus inserts into the tibia. Because of this, the ligament occasionally contains muscle fibres. This is an [[atavism|atavistic]] variation.
==Causes of Injury==
===Skiing===
The most common knee structure damaged in [[skiing]] is the medial collateral ligament, although the [[carve turn]] has diminished the incidence somewhat.<ref>[http://www.ski-injury.com/knee.htm Knee injuries<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
===American Football===
MCL strains and tears are fairly common in American football. Mostly the [[Center (American football)|Center]] and the [[Guard (American football)|Guards]] are ones who get this injury, due to the grip trend on their cleats. The number of football players who get this injury has increased in recent years. Companies are currently trying to develop better cleats that will prevent injury.
==Additional images==
<gallery>
Image:Gray345.png|Right knee-joint. Anterior view.
Image:Gray346.png|Right knee-joint. Posterior view.
Image:Gray348.png|Left knee-joint from behind, showing interior ligaments.
Image:Gray352.png|Capsule of right knee-joint (distended). Posterior aspect.
</gallery>
==External links==
* [http://www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/node/879 The KNEEguru - educational site packed with knee content with sections on medial collateral ligament injuries]
* {{SUNYAnatomyFigs|17|06|04}}
* {{eMedicineDictionary|Medial+collateral+ligament}}
* {{NormanAnatomy|lljoints}} ({{NormanAnatomyFig|antkneejointopenflexed}})
==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Ligaments]]
[[Category:Pelvic limb anatomy]]
[[pl:Więzadło poboczne piszczelowe]]
[[pt:Ligamento colateral medial]]
{{Joints of lower limbs}}
{{musculoskeletal-stub}}