The knee's side ligaments
Collateral ligaments of the knee
Two bands on either side of the knee that stop it bending sideways.
What it does
The medial collateral ligament runs down the inner side of the knee from the femur to the tibia; the lateral collateral ligament runs down the outer side to the head of the fibula. Together they keep the knee from buckling sideways.
Surprising fact
The inner (medial) collateral ligament is the most commonly injured knee ligament, usually from a blow to the outside of the knee.
Why it matters
Most collateral ligament sprains heal well with a brace and physiotherapy, because these ligaments have a good blood supply.
Nearby
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Sources
Drafted with AI help; awaiting a human fact-check against these sources.
Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.