Ligamentum teres of the hip
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At the time the article was created Frank Gaillard had no recorded disclosures.
View Frank Gaillard'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- ligamentum capitis femoris
- round ligament of the hip
The ligamentum teres, also known as the ligamentum capitis femoris or round ligament of the hip, is an intra-articular ligament within the medial hip joint.
On this page:
Gross anatomy
The ligament passes from the transverse ligament and acetabular notch of the acetabulum to the femoral head where it inserts into a shallow depression called the fovea capitis. The ligament is lined by synovium. It ranges from a well-formed structure in some patients to absent in others (see case 2).
Ligamentum teres classically is defined as originating from the transverse acetabular ligament. Anatomical studies have shown a much more comprehensive set of six attachments 4 to the acetabulum.
superficial: transverse acetabular ligament
-
deep attachments
posterior attachment: ischial margin of acetabular notch
anterior attachment: pubic margin of acetabular notch
acetabular fossa attachment to the ilium, ischium and pubis
Function
In the infant it has a significant role as it transmits a nutrient artery to the femoral head epiphysis. In the adult, its role is poorly understood, and there are several hypothesized functions 2:
maintains the upright position as it is tightest when erect and weight-bearing
aids fine coordination of the hip joint
additional hip stabilizer in patients with generalized ligamentous laxity, hip dysplasia and in patients with anteroinferior acetabular deficiency
maintains lubrication in the joint by aiding the distribution of synovial fluid
Anatomical variants
congenital absence of the ligamentum teres 3
Related pathology
avulsion fracture of the fovea capitis (see case 3)
References
- 1. Chatha D & Arora R. MR Imaging of the Normal Hip. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 2005;13(4):605-15. doi:10.1016/j.mric.2005.08.012 - Pubmed
- 2. Porthos Salas A, O'Donnell JM. Ligamentum teres injuries - an observational study of a proposed new arthroscopic classification. (2015) Journal of hip preservation surgery. 2 (3): 258-64. doi:10.1093/jhps/hnv045 - Pubmed
- 3. Nguyen M, Kheyfits V, Giordano B, Dieudonne G, Monu J. Hip Anatomic Variants That May Mimic Pathologic Entities on MRI: Nonlabral Variants. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2013;201(3):W401-8. doi:10.2214/ajr.12.9861
- 4. Mikula J, Slette E, Chahla J et al. Quantitative Anatomic Analysis of the Native Ligamentum Teres. Orthop J Sports Med. 2017;5(2):2325967117691480. doi:10.1177/2325967117691480 - Pubmed
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