Bifurcate ligament
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View a b's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Arlene Campos had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Arlene Campos's current disclosures- Bifurcated ligament
- Chopart ligament
- Calcaneonavicular ligament
- Calcaneonavicular ligament (CNL)
- Calcaneocuboid ligament
- Calcaneocuboid ligament (CCL)
- Ligament of Chopart
The bifurcate ligament, also known as the Chopart ligament 5,8, is a key stabilizer of the subtalar and midtarsal joints 5,7. It originates from the anterior process of the calcaneus before dividing into two bands that insert into the navicular and cuboid 5-7.
Gross anatomy
The bifurcate ligament lies deep to the extensor hallucis brevis and extensor digitorum brevis muscles 6. It arises from the anterior process of the calcaneus as a short stem with two bands forming a Y-shape or V-shape 1-8:
-
(lateral) calcaneonavicular ligament
arises deep to the interosseous talocalcaneal ligament/cervical ligament/extensor digitorum brevis muscle on the calcaneus, extends anteromedially and attaches to the dorsolateral navicular 6,8
forms the medial component 8
longer and thicker measuring 20-25 mm (length) and 10 mm (width) 5,6
almost always (~99%) present 5,6
-
(medial) calcaneocuboid ligament
extends anteriorly and attaches to the dorsomedial cuboid 8
forms the lateral component 8
measures 10 x 5 mm 6
absent in ~25% (range 10-40%) 5
Practical points
The medial calcaneocuboid ligament often blends with the dorsal calcaneocuboid ligament and in such a case they are indistinguishable on MRI.
Quiz questions
References
- 1. Walter W, Hirschmann A, Alaia E, Tafur M, Rosenberg Z. Normal Anatomy and Traumatic Injury of the Midtarsal (Chopart) Joint Complex: An Imaging Primer. Radiographics. 2019;39(1):136-52. doi:10.1148/rg.2019180102 - Pubmed
- 2. Susan Standring. Gray's Anatomy. (2015) ISBN: 9780702052309 - Google Books
- 3. Richard L. Drake, Wayne Vogl, Adam W. M. Mitchell et al. Gray's Anatomy for Students. (2010) ISBN: 9780443069529 - Google Books
- 4. Mcminn. Last's Anatomy. (2003) ISBN: 9780729537520 - Google Books
- 5. Kafka R, Aveytua I, Choi P et al. Anatomico-Radiological Study of the Bifurcate Ligament of the Foot with Clinical Significance. Cureus. 2019;11(1):e3847. doi:10.7759/cureus.3847 - Pubmed
- 6. Edama M, Ikezu M, Kaneko F et al. Morphological Features of the Bifurcated Ligament. Surg Radiol Anat. 2019;41(1):3-7. doi:10.1007/s00276-018-2089-y - Pubmed
- 7. Kobayashi T, Watanabe K, Teramoto A, Suzuki D, Fujimiya M, Yamashita T. Biomechanical Analysis of Midfoot Instability After Bifurcate Ligament Injury and Ankle Brace Application: A Cadaveric Study. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2020;59(4):711-5. doi:10.1053/j.jfas.2019.12.002 - Pubmed
- 8. Melão L, Canella C, Weber M, Negrão P, Trudell D, Resnick D. Ligaments of the Transverse Tarsal Joint Complex: MRI–Anatomic Correlation in Cadavers. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2009;193(3):662-71. doi:10.2214/ajr.08.2084 - Pubmed
Incoming Links
- Midfoot ligametous injury (ultrasound)
- Bifurcate ligament - calcaneonavicular portion
- Ankle extensor retinaculum and lateral ligaments injuries - ultrasound
- Anterior talofibular ligament bony avulsion - paediatric
- Lateral ankle ligaments injury
- Calcaneal avulsion fracture (ultrasound)
- Midtarsal sprain
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