Anatom3DCollateral metacarpophalangeal ligaments
Ligamenta collateralia articulationum metacarpophalangearum · Postranní metakarpofalangeální vazy
Joints & cartilage
Looks like
Bands on each side of the knuckle joints, loose when the fingers are straight and tight when bent.
What it does
Stabilise the knuckles against sideways stress, especially with the fingers bent.
Keeping it well
The thumb one (ulnar collateral, skier's thumb) is often torn; a weak pinch after a fall on the thumb needs early review.
Related conditions
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- De Quervain's tenosynovitis
- Dupuytren's contracture & trigger finger
- Ganglion cyst
- Gout
- Haemophilia & bleeding disorders
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
- Lyme disease
- Marfan syndrome & connective tissue disorders
- Osteoarthritis
- Pseudogout (calcium pyrophosphate disease)
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Raynaud's phenomenon
- Repetitive strain & overuse injury
- Rheumatic fever & rheumatic heart disease
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Temporomandibular joint disorder