New knee ligament confirmed

It's been there all along.  In most of us, at least.  Back in 1879, French surgeon Paul Ferdinand Segond first described it as it related to a particular type of avulsion fracture of the knee—the Segond fracture. But it was never really confirmed as separate from the joint capsule and named as a normal ligament of the human knee.  Until now.

Dubbed the anterolateral ligament (ALL), it originates at the prominence of the lateral femoral epicondyle (just anterior to the lateral collateral ligament) and running obliquely to the anterolateral part of the tibia (attached at the lateral meniscus).

Segond

So maybe we should pencil the ALL into our anatomic atlases, eh?  And wait for some research to confirm its biomechanical function—probably related to controlling internal rotation of the tibia.

This might also provide a good opportunity to talk about the dynamic nature of anatomical science—and the fact that human anatomy is not "finished."



Want to know more?

Anatomy of the anterolateral ligament of the knee

• Steven Claes et al. Journal of Anatomy. Volume 223, Issue 4, pages 321–328, October 2013 (First published online: 1 AUG 2013) DOI: 10.1111/joa.12087
• This the original journal article (free abstract).
• my-ap.us/1aFUVV3

The Anterolateral Ligament of the Knee: Anatomy, Radiology, Biomechanics and Clinical Implications

• Steven Claes, et al. American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) Annual Meeting, SE73, 20 March 2013
• This is an abstract (with image) of a preliminary presentation giving prior to journal publication.
• my-ap.us/1b7bU0Q

Photo of the ALL

• Steven Claes, et al. American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) Annual Meeting, SE73, 20 March 2013
• my-ap.us/1cF4sgC

Diagram of ALL

• Kevin Patton, The A&P Professor Image Library, published 7 Nov 2013
• Diagram you can use in your course to highlight the ALL
• theapprofessor.org/graphics/ALL_Kpatton.fw.png