Connective Tissue of Lower Limb (Left)

Description

The lower limb, encompassing the hip, knee, ankle, and foot, has many articulations and thus contains a considerable amount of connective tissue structures.

The hip is a stable, weight-bearing ball and socket joint. It has several tightly wound ligaments including the pubofemoral, iliofemoral, and ischiofemoral ligaments. In addition, the acetabular labrum, a band of tough connective tissue, lines the acetabulum. This deepens the socket and further aids in stabilizing the hip joint. Several bursae, such as the trochanteric and ischial bursae, aid in the movement of the hip region.

In the thigh, the fascial covering of the anterior thigh is called the fascia lata. A thickened band of connective tissue runs down the lateral aspect of the thigh from the ilium to the tibia and is named the iliotibial band.

The knee joint facilitates weight transmission from the rounded femoral condyles to the relatively flat proximal tibia. Due to its inherent instability and load-bearing nature, it is aided by several connective tissue structures. These include ligaments, retinacula, bursae, and menisci.

The leg is divided into compartments by the thick and tightly adherent crural fascia. The connective tissue of the ankle and associated joints consists of several ligaments and retinaculae that hold the tendons and neurovascular structures in place as they enter the foot.

The foot consists of many articulation points and their multitude of ligaments permit the foot to work in synchrony during the gait cycle. In addition, the arch of the foot is supported by the plantar aponeurosis.