Synonyms
Ligamentum collaterale mediale, Ligamentum collaterale tibiale, Internal collateral ligament, Internal knee ligament, medial collateral ligament (MCL)
General information
The inner ligament of the knee is also called the medial collateral ligament. It connects the thigh bone (“femur”) with the shin bone (“tibia”). It is the central counterpart to the outer collateral ligament, which connects the thigh with the fibula. Together they form the lateral stabilization of the knee joint.
Anatomy of the inner ligament
The collateral tibial ligament runs flat and relatively broad along the inside of the knee (medial), with a slight backward (dorsal) shift. Seen from the middle of the body (proximal), the inner ligament of the knee originates at the epicondylus medialis femoris (inner bony projection of the femur), extends across the joint gap and finally attaches to the so-called facies medialis tibiae slightly below the condyle medialis tibiae (medial condyle of the tibia). The MCL has an anterior (anterior) and a posterior (posterior) portion, whereby a total of three fiber groups can be differentiated.
This adhesion to the outer joint capsule of the knee provides additional stability to the middle side. The two lower fiber portions of the inner ligament of the knee are covered by the Pes anserinus superficialis. The three muscles M. semitendinosus (half tendon muscle), M. sartorius (tailor muscle) and M. gracilis (slim muscle) attach to the condyle medialis tibiae via this fan-shaped connection.
Between the Pes anserinus and the inner ligament is the bursa anserina (bursa), which serves to move the three muscles relative to the ligamentum. This close spatial relationship can lead to an inflammation of the bursa (bursitis anserina) depending on the load.
- The anterior long fibers pull from the attachment on the thigh to the attachment surface on the inner tibia
- The posterior upper short fibers move to the inner meniscus (Meniscus medialis) and are fused with it
- The rear lower long fibers run from the inner meniscus to the attachment surface on the shin bone
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