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The Biomechanics of Ligaments

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Biomechanics and Biomaterials in Orthopedics

Abstract

Ligaments are passive collagenous structures that act primarily as tensile restraints to control the distance between their attachment points. Ligaments normally traverse joints, and so they act to control the relative separation of the bones that they are attached to. Hence, the ligaments control the patterns of movement, or kinematics, of joints, as well as ensuring the stability of joints. In addition to this simple mechanical description of the role of ligaments, they provide more subtle control of joint motion and stability via proprioceptive feedback to the muscles, but this will not be addressed here. This chapter will review the mechanical properties of the ligaments themselves, and then look at how the ligaments act to stabilize joints.

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  1. A. A. Amis
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique et de Traumatologie, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Nord, Marseille Cedex 20, France

    Dominique G. Poitout MD (Professeur à l’Université de la Mediterranée, Chef de Service) (Professeur à l’Université de la Mediterranée, Chef de Service)

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© 2004 Springer-Verlag London

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Amis, A.A. (2004). The Biomechanics of Ligaments. In: Poitout, D.G. (eds) Biomechanics and Biomaterials in Orthopedics. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3774-0_48

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3774-0_48

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-3776-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-3774-0

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