Posterior inferior tibiofibular ligament
Last revised by Sachintha Hapugoda ◉ on 16 Mar 2022
Citation, DOI & article data
Citation:
Feger J, Hapugoda S, MacManus D, et al. Posterior inferior tibiofibular ligament. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 05 Feb 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-78966
rID:
78966
Article created:
16 Jun 2020 by Joachim Feger ◉
Revisions:
14 times by 4 users - see full revision history
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Posterior inferior tibiofibular ligament (PITFL)
- Posterior tibiofibular ligament
The distal posterior inferior tibiofibular ligament (PITFL) is a strong ligament of the tibiofibular syndesmosis.
On this page:
Gross anatomy
The posterior tibiofibular ligament is formed of multiple collagen bundles with interposed fatty tissue and courses obliquely downward from the posterior distal tibia to the posterior margin of the fibula, in a 20-40° angle to the horizontal plane 1. Proximally it blends with the posterior fibers of the interosseous ligament cranially. It has a triangular shape with transverse and oblique components 2.
Attachments
- proximal origin from the posterolateral tubercle of tibia (Volkmann)
- distally converging insertion at the small posterior fibular tubercle
Radiographic features
MRI
Hypointense in both T1 and T2 with interspersed fatty tissue.
Related pathology
References
- 1. Hermans J, Beumer A, De Jong T, Kleinrensink G. Anatomy of the Distal Tibiofibular Syndesmosis in Adults: A Pictorial Essay with a Multimodality Approach. J Anat. 2010;217(6):633-45. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7580.2010.01302.x - Pubmed
- 2. Jayatilaka M, Philpott M, Fisher A, Fisher L, Molloy A, Mason L. Anatomy of the Insertion of the Posterior Inferior Tibiofibular Ligament and the Posterior Malleolar Fracture. Foot Ankle Int. 2019;40(11):1319-24. doi:10.1177/1071100719865896 - Pubmed
- 3. Hu W, Chen D, Li B, Yang Y, Yu G. Motion of the Distal Tibiofibular Syndesmosis Under Different Loading Patterns: A Biomechanical Study. J Orthop Surg (Hong Kong). 2019;27(2):230949901984287. doi:10.1177/2309499019842879 - Pubmed
Related articles: Anatomy: Lower limb
- skeleton of the lower limb
- joints of the lower limb
-
hip joint
- ligaments
- muscles
- additional structures
- hip joint capsule
- zona orbicularis
- iliotibial band
-
hip bursae
- anterior
- iliopsoas bursa (iliopectineal bursa)
- lateral
- subgluteal bursae
- greater trochanteric bursa (subgluteus maximus bursa)
- subgluteus medius bursa
- subgluteus minimus bursa
- gluteofemoral bursa
- subgluteal bursae
- postero-inferior
- anterior
- ossification centers
-
knee joint
- ligaments
- anterior cruciate ligament
- posterior cruciate ligament
- medial collateral ligament
- lateral collateral ligament
- meniscofemoral ligament (mnemonic)
-
posterolateral ligamentous complex
- arcuate ligament
- patellar tendon and quadriceps tendon
- anterolateral ligament
- posterior oblique ligament
- oblique popliteal ligament
- medial patellofemoral ligament
- additional structures
- extensor mechanism of the knee
- groove for the popliteus tendon
- knee bursae
- anterior bursae
- medial bursae
- lateral bursae
- posterior bursae
- knee capsule
- lateral patellar retinaculum
- medial patellar retinaculum
- menisci
- pes anserinus (mnemonic)
- ossification centers
- ligaments
- tibiofibular joints
-
ankle joint
- regional anatomy
- medial ankle
- lateral ankle
- anterior ankle
- ligaments
- medial collateral (deltoid) ligament
- lateral collateral ligament
- additional structures
- ankle bursae
- ossification centers of the ankle
- variants
- regional anatomy
- foot joints
- subtalar joint
- mid-tarsal (Chopart) joint
-
tarsometatarsal (Lisfranc) joint
- ligaments
- intermetatarsal joint
- metatarsophalangeal joint
- interphalangeal joint
- ossification centers
-
hip joint
- spaces of the lower limb
-
muscles of the lower limb
- muscles of the pelvic group
- muscles of the thigh
- muscles of the leg
- anterior compartment of the leg
- posterior compartments of the leg
- lateral compartment of the leg
- muscles of the foot
- dorsal muscles
- plantar muscles
- 1st layer
- 2nd layer
- 3rd layer
- 4th layer
- accessory muscles of the lower limb
- accessory gluteal muscles
-
accessory muscles of the ankle
- accessory peroneal muscles
- accessory flexor digitorum longus muscle
- accessory soleus muscle
- peroneocalcaneus internus muscle
- tibiocalcaneus internus muscle
- extensor hallucis capsularis tendon
- anterior fibulocalcaneus muscle
- accessory extensor digiti secundus muscle
- tibioastragalus anticus of Gruber muscle
- vascular supply of the lower limb
- arterial supply of the lower limb
- venous drainage of the lower limb
- innervation of the lower limb
- lymphatic system of the lower limb
- lymphatic pathways
- anteromedial group
- anterolateral group
- posteromedial group
- posterolateral group
- lower limb lymph nodes
- lymphatic pathways