Posterolateral ligamentous complex

Changed by Henry Knipe, 7 Jun 2017

Updates to Article Attributes

Body was changed:

Show markup changes

The posterolateral ligamentous complex (also known as the arcuate ligamentous complex) of the knee is an important stabiliser and consists of a number of structures. Depending on the publication/definition more or less of the following structures are included ^1-4:

lateral (fibular) collateral ligament
arcuate ligament
popliteofibular ligament
posterior third of the lateral capsule
fabellofibular ligament (when a fabella is present)
tendoaponeurotic unit formed by the popliteus muscle (not always included)
biceps femoris tendon (not always included)
popliteal meniscal ligament (not always included)
lateral gastrocnemius muscle (not always included)

Functional classification

Some authors group the structure comprising this ligamentous complex into in the following functional groups:

static stabilizers (i.e. posterolateral knee joint capsule)
- arcuate ligament
- popliteofibular ligament
- lateral (fibular) collateral ligament
- fabellofibular ligament (when the fabella is present)
dynamic stabilizers
- tendoaponeurotic unit formed by the popliteus muscle
- biceps femoris tendon
- lateral gastrocnemius muscle (not always included)
other structures
- popliteal meniscal ligament
- posterior horn lateral meniscus
- lateral coronary ligament
- iliotibial band

Radiographic features

MRI

Components of the posterolateral corner that with some variability can be identified on MRI are:

biceps femoris tendon
fibular collateral ligament
popliteus tendon
popliteus musculotendinous complex including:
- popliteofibular ligament
- fabellofibular ligament
- arcuate ligament

+</ul><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>MRI</h5><p>Components of the posterolateral corner that with some variability can be identified on MRI are:</p><ul>
+<li>biceps femoris tendon</li>
+<li>fibular collateral ligament</li>
+<li>popliteus tendon</li>
+<li>popliteus musculotendinous complex including: <ul>
+<li>popliteofibular ligament</li>
+<li>fabellofibular ligament</li>
+<li>arcuate ligament</li>
+</ul>
+</li>