Attaches (origin/

Ligament Function
insertion)

Cervical Ligaments

Anterior vertebral
Anterior Resists neck
body & disc to next
longitudinal extension
vertebrae

Shock absorption,
Vertebral bodies
Annulus fibrosus resists all spinal
from C3-S1
motions

Posterior vertebral
Posterior
body & disc to next Resists neck flexion
longitudinal
vertebrae

Resist flexion &

Facet below to
Z-joint capsule lateral flexion of
facet above
neck

Resists flexion of
Ligamentum trunk, elasticity
Laminae to laminae
flavum assists extension of
trunk

Resists flexion of
Spinous process to
Interspinous trunk & shear
spinous process
forces on vertebrae

Resists trunk
Spinous process to flexion & forward
Supraspinous
SP above shear force on
spine

Resists flexion,
Nuchal EOP to C7-T1 Sps attachment point
for muscles
 Resists lateral
Apex of dens to flexion & rotation
Alar
medial occipital of head; holds
dens into atlas

Apex of dens to
Holds dens into
Apical front foramen
atlas & skull
magnum

Stabilizes C1-C2,
Odontoid bone to resists anterior
Cruciform arch of atlas (C1-2 translation of C1
stability) (prevent brainstem
compression)

Thoracic Ligaments

Anterior vertebral
Anterior Resists spinal
body & disc to next
longitudinal extension
vertebrae

Shock absorption,
Vertebral bodies
Annulus fibrosus resists all spinal
from C3-S1
motions

Posterior vertebral
Posterior Resists spinal
body & disc to next
longitudinal flexion
vertebrae

Resist flexion &

Facet above to
Z-joint capsule lateral flexion of
facet below
trunk

Resists flexion of
Ligamentum trunk, elasticity
Laminae to laminae
flavum assists extension of
trunk
 Resists flexion of
Spinous process to
Interspinous trunk, & shear
SP
forces on vertebrae

Resists trunk
Spinous process to flexion & forward
Supraspinous
SP above on tips shear force on
spine

Transverse process Resists lateral

Intertransverse
to TP flexion of trunk

Tubercles of ribs to Supports rib

Costotransverse transverse process attachment to
of vertebrae thoracic vertebrae

Head of ribs to Maintains ribs to

Radiate
body of vertebrae thoracic vertebrae

Lumbar & SI Ligaments

Anterior vertebral
Anterior Resists spinal
body & disc to next
longitudinal extension
vertebrae

Shock absorption,
Vertebral bodies
Annulus fibrosus resists all spinal
from C3-S1
motions

Posterior vertebral
Posterior Resists spinal
body & disc to next
longitudinal flexion
vertebrae
 Resist flexion &
Facet below to
Z-joint capsule lateral flexion of
facet above
trunk

Resists flexion of
Ligamentum trunk, elasticity
Laminae to laminae
flavum assists extension of
trunk

Resists flexion of
Spinous process to
Interspinous trunk, & shear
spinous process
forces on vertebrae

Resists trunk
Spinous process to flexion & forward
Supraspinous
SP above shear force on
spine

Transverse process Resists lateral

Intertransverse
to TP flexion of trunk

Transverse process
Resists lumbar
Iliolumbar of L4-5 to iliac
flexion & rotation
crest

Attachment point
ASIS to pubic of abdominal
Inguinal
tubercle muscle and fascia
lata of thigh

Sacrum to ischial Resists sacral

Sacrotuberous
tuberosity nutation

Resists sacral
Sacrum to ischial
Sacrospinous nutation & lateral
spine
flexion

Resists sacral
Sacroiliac (ant/
Sacrum to ilium nutation, holds SI
post)
joint together
Shoulder Ligaments

Acromion process Resists AC joint

Acromioclavicular
to clavicle separation

Corocoid process to Forms arch over

Coracoacromial
acromion process shoulder

Resists anterior
and posterior
Coracoclavicular
 scapula
Coracoid process to
Trapezoid
 movements &
clavicle
Conoid upward/downward
movements of
clavicle on scapula

Resists upward
Coracoid process to humeral head
greater and lesser movement &
Coracohumeral
tuberosity on external rotation.

humerus Supports weight of
arm

Resists clavicle
elevation, anterior,
posterior, and
Costoclavicular Clavicle to 1st rib
lateral movement.

Supports weight of
arm
 Tight with external
rotation &
abduction past
Upper, anterior
Glenohumeral
 100�.

edge of glenoid to
Superior
 Prevents anterior
over, in front, and
Middle
 dislocation of
below humeral
Inferior humerus; resists
head
clavicular motion,
supports weight of
arm

Checks motion of
Interclavicular Clavicle to clavicle clavicle, supports
arm weight

Elbow Ligaments

Anterior margin of Surrounds and

radial notch to supports head of
Annular
posterior margin of radius; holds
radial notion radius in joint

Supports lateral
Lateral epicondyle
Radial collateral joint (resists varus
to annular ligament
forces)

Ulnar collateral
 Supports medial

Medial epicondyle,
Posterior, joint (resists valgus
olecranon process
Transverse, forces - throwing,
to coronoid process
Anterior falling)

Wrist & Hand Ligaments

 Resists separation
of radius & ulna,
helps control
Interosseous Shafts of radius & supination &
membrane ulna pronation,
attachment point
for forearm
muscles

Supports lateral
Radius to scaphoid, side of wrist
Radial Collateral
trapezium (resists valgus
forces)

Supports medial
side of wrist
Ulna to pisiform, (resists varus
Ulnar Collateral
triquetrum forces, support
triangular
fibrocartilage)

Connects radius to
Distal radius to
carpals; supports
Dorsal Radiocarpal scaphoid, lunate,
posterior side of
triquetrum
wrist

Scaphoid to lunate, Holds carpals

Palmar Intercarpal
triquetrum together

Across anterior
Supports anterior
Palmar Plates joint of MP, PIP,
MP, PIP, & DIP joint
DIP

Connects radius to
Distal radius to
carpals; supports
Palmar Radiocarpal scaphoid, lunate,
anterior side of
triquetrum
wrist
 Fibrous sheath
which contains
Hamate & pisiform
carpal tunnel,
Transverse Carpal to scaphoid &
important part of
trapezium
digital flexor pulley
system

First row of carpals

Holds carpals
Intercarpal to second row of
together
carpals

Phalanx to
Supports sides of
phalanx, sides of
Collateral fingers; resists
MCP, PIP & DIP
varus/valgus force
joints

Hip Ligaments

Supports anterior
hip; resists in
AIIS to
movements of
Iliofemoral intertrochanteric
extension, internal
line of femur
rotation, external
rotation

Posterior
acetabulum to Resists adduction &
Ischiofemoral
iliofemoral internal rotation
ligament

Pubic part of
Resists in
acetabulum,
movements of
Pubofemoral superior rami to
abduction &
intertrochanteric
external rotation
line
 Transmits vessels
Acetabular notch &
to head of femur;
transverse
Ligament teres may resist
ligament to pit on
distraction forces
head of femur
of joint

Attachment point
Obturator Covers obturator of obturator
Membrane foramen internus &
externus

Knee Ligaments

Patellar Transmits force

Interior patella to
(infrapatellar from quadriceps to
tibial tuberosity
tend.) tibia

Resists anterior
Anterior
tibial translation &
intercondylar area
extension, internal
Anterior Cruciate of tibia to medial
rotation, flexion
surface of lateral
(tight in full
femoral condyle
extension)

Resists posterior
Posterior tibial tibial movement,
spine to inner movements of
Posterior cruciate
lateral femoral flexion & rotation
condyle (tight in full
extension)

Resists valgus
forces (tight in
Medial epicondyle
extension) &
Medial (tibial) of femur to medial
internal/external
collateral condyle of tibia &
rotation (direct
medial meniscus
attachment to
medial meniscus)
 Lateral epicondyle Resists varus
Lateral (fibular)
of femur to head of forces (tight in
collateral
fibula extension)

Supports
Lateral femur
anterolateral
epicondyle to
Anterolateral lig stability of the
proximal tibia
(ALL) knee (may
(attaches to lateral
influence meniscus
meniscus)
mobility)

Holds fibula against

tibia, resists
Tibia to fibular superior, anterior
Proximal Tib-Fib
head and posterior
fibular translation
(heel strike)

Ankle Ligaments

Resists separation
Shaft of fibula to of tibia & fibula,
Interosseous
tibia muscle attachment
point

Tibiofibular Resists separation

Distal fibula to tibia
(anterior/posterior) of tibia & fibula

Resists anterior
displacement of
Lateral malleolus to
Anterior talofibular foot/talar tilt;
neck of talus
resists plantar
flexion & inversion

Lateral malleolus to Resists inversion &

Calcaneofibular tubercle on outer backward
calcaneus translation of foot
 Inner, back, lateral Resists plantar
malleolus to flexion,
Posterior talofibular
posterior surface of dorsiflexion,
talus inversion

Resists valgus
forces to ankle;
Medial malleolus to
plantar flexion,
Deltoid talus, navicular,
dorsiflexion,
calcaneus
eversion, &
abduction of foot

Anterior margin of
Spring or Plantar
calcaneus to Supports arch
calcaneonavicular
inferior navicular

Inferior calcaneus
Long plantar to cuboid & Supports arch
metatarsals

Supports arch;
maintains
Transverse Tarsals to
relationship
metatarsal metatarsals
between tarsals &
metatarsals

Maintain articular
Intertarsal Tarsal to tarsal
relationship & arch

Phalanx to
Supports sides of
phalanx, sides of
Collateral toes; resists varus/
MTP, PIP & DIP
valgus force
joints