Structure
The ligament of the head of the femur is flat and shaped like a triangle. Its strength is variable, and it is covered by the synovial membrane, which occasionally might be present alone in the absence of the ligament.
Anatomical Relations
The base of the triangular ligament of the head of the femur is attached to the two edges of the acetabular notch, between which it coalesces with the transverse acetabular ligament. Its apex is attached to the fovea for the ligament of the head of the femur anterosuperiorly. It also receives some fibers from the margins of the acetabular fossa (Standring, 2016).
Function
Collectively the ligaments of the hip joint contribute significantly to the stability, excursion, and capacity of the joint. Specifically, the ligament of the head of the femur provides structural support to blood vessels that course to and from the femoral head. It may also play a role in providing stability to the hip joint in utero (Standring, 2016).
List of Clinical Correlates
—Hip joint effusion
—Hip fractures and dislocation
—Congenital dislocation of the hip
References
Standring, S. (2016) Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. Gray's Anatomy Series 41st edn.: Elsevier Limited.
