Collateral ligaments

Looks like

The two side ligaments of the knee: a broad band inside, a cord outside.

What it does

Stop the knee bending sideways.

Keeping it well

Strength and balance; the inner one is the commonest knee ligament injury and heals without surgery.

Its parts

• Deep part of tibial collateral ligament
• Fibular collateral ligament
• Superficial part of tibial collateral ligament

Related conditions

• ACL & meniscus injury
• Baker's (popliteal) cyst
• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Gout
• Growing pains
• Haemophilia & bleeding disorders
• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
• Lyme disease
• Lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis)
• Lymphoedema
• Marfan syndrome & connective tissue disorders
• Osteoarthritis
• Pseudogout (calcium pyrophosphate disease)
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Reactive arthritis
• Restless legs syndrome
• Rheumatic fever & rheumatic heart disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Septic arthritis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Temporomandibular joint disorder
• Varicose veins