Acromioclavicular ligament

Ligamentum acromioclaviculare

Definition

The acromioclavicular ligament is part of the acromioclavicular joint. It is divided into two parts: superior and inferior:

  • The Superior Acromioclavicular Ligament (ligamentum acromioclaviculare).—This ligament is a quadrilateral band, covering the superior part of the articulation, and extending between the upper part of the acromial end of the clavicle and the adjoining part of the upper surface of the acromion. It is composed of parallel fibers, which interlace with the aponeuroses of the Trapezius and Deltoideus; below, it is in contact with the articular disk when this is present.
  • The Inferior Acromioclavicular Ligament.—This ligament is somewhat thinner than the preceding; it covers the under part of the articulation, and is attached to the adjoining surfaces of the two bones. It is in relation, above, in rare cases with the articular disk;below, with the tendon of the Supraspinatus.

References

This definition incorporates text from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy (20th U.S. edition of Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body, published in 1918 – from http://www.bartleby.com/107/).

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