Descending part of iliofemoral ligament

Looks like

The inner limb of the Y-shaped ligament at the front of the hip, running from the lower front spine of the pelvis down to the lower end of the intertrochanteric line on the thigh bone.

What it does

Stops the hip over-straightening, so we can stand with little muscle effort.

Keeping it well

Part of the strongest ligament in the body; hip dislocation usually needs great force because of it.

Related conditions

• Avascular necrosis (osteonecrosis)
• Bone metastases and spinal cord compression
• Developmental dysplasia of the hip
• Gout
• Haemophilia & bleeding disorders
• Lyme disease
• Marfan syndrome & connective tissue disorders
• Osteoarthritis
• Perthes disease
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Rheumatic fever & rheumatic heart disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Septic arthritis
• Slipped capital femoral epiphysis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Temporomandibular joint disorder