Ligament of head of femur

Ligament of Head of Femur

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Ligament of head of femur

The Ligament of Head of Femur is a crucial anatomical structure in the human body, specifically within the hip joint. It is also known as the ligamentum teres femoris or the round ligament of the femur. This ligament is a narrow, elongated band and is somewhat flattened, situated within the acetabulum and attached to a depression in the head of the femur known as the fovea capitis.

Structure

The ligament of the head of the femur is intracapsular and runs from the acetabular notch to the fovea of the femur. It is approximately 3-4 cm long and is surrounded by the synovial membrane of the hip joint. It is not particularly strong and does not provide significant mechanical strength to the hip joint.

Function

The primary function of the ligament of the head of the femur is to supply blood to the head of the femur through the artery of the ligament of the head of the femur, a branch of the obturator artery. This is particularly important in childhood and adolescence, before the epiphyseal arteries develop.

Clinical Significance

Damage to the ligament of the head of the femur can lead to avascular necrosis of the femoral head, a serious condition that can result in severe pain and disability. This is because the ligament carries a significant portion of the blood supply to the femoral head.

See Also

• Hip joint
• Femur
• Acetabulum