Ligament of head of femur - Lower extremity - Joints of free lower limb - e-Anatomy
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Ligament of head of femur

Ligamentum capitis femoris

  • Latin synonym: Ligamentum capitis ossis femoris
  • Synonym: Ligamentum teres of femur

Definition

The ligament of head of femur (a.k.a. ligamentum teres), acts as a connecting ligament. It is affixed to the fovea of the femoral head on one end, while its other end, referred to as the basal end, is attached to the margins of the acetabular notch. This ligament functions as a conduit for arterial branches originating from the posterior division of the obturator artery and the ascending cervical branch of the medial circumflex femoral artery. These arterial branches, commonly known as the medial epiphyseal arteries, traverse the acetabular notch and accompany the ligamentum teres to supply the medial region of the femoral head.

References

Text written by Muhammad A. Javaid, MD, PhD © 2023 IMAIOS.

  • Standring, S. and Gray, H. (2016). ‘Chapter 80: Pelvic girdle, gluteal region and thigh’ in Gray’s anatomy The anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. (41st ed.) New York: Elsevier, pp. 1352-1353 & 1378-1379.

  • Gold, M., Munjal, A. and Varacallo, M. Anatomy, Bony Pelvis and Lower Limb, Hip Joint. [Updated 2022 Jul 25]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470555/

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