Ligaments

Looks like

Short cords and bands of tough fibres tying bone to bone across every joint.

What it does

Hold joints together and stop movement going too far.

Keeping it well

Balance and strength work; a sprain is a torn ligament, and it heals slowly because blood supply is poor.

Its parts

• Trochlea of superior oblique
• Stylohyoid ligament
• Lateral thyrohyoid ligament
• Median thyrohyoid ligament
• Thyro-epiglottic ligament

Related conditions

• Gout
• Haemophilia & bleeding disorders
• Hypermobility and Ehlers–Danlos syndromes
• Lyme disease
• Marfan syndrome & connective tissue disorders
• Osteoarthritis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Rheumatic fever & rheumatic heart disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Sarcoma
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Temporomandibular joint disorder