Ligament facts for kids
A ligament is like a strong, stretchy band inside your body. It's made of tough material called connective tissue. Ligaments connect your bones to other bones. They help hold your joints together. Think of them as natural ropes that keep your skeleton connected!
Ligaments are super important for how your body moves. They make sure your bones stay in the right place at your joints. Some ligaments also stop your joints from moving too far. This prevents injuries. For example, the ligaments in your knee stop it from bending backward.
Ligaments vs. Tendons
It's easy to mix up ligaments and tendons, but they do different jobs!
- Ligaments connect bones to other bones.
- Tendons connect muscles to bones.
Both are made of strong fibers, but their roles are different.
How Ligaments Work
Ligaments are a bit stretchy, but not like a rubber band. They are made of long, stringy fibers called collagen. When you put tension on them, they can slowly get longer. This is why athletes, gymnasts, and dancers stretch. Stretching helps to make their ligaments longer. This makes their joints more flexible and able to move in bigger ways.
When Ligaments Get Hurt
If a ligament is stretched too much, it can get injured. This can happen if a joint moves in a way it shouldn't. For example, if a bone pops out of a joint (a dislocation), the ligaments around it can get stretched. If ligaments get too long, the joint can become weak.
Sometimes, a ligament can even break. This can make a joint unstable. Not all broken ligaments need surgery. But if a joint needs to be made stable again, doctors can sometimes fix the broken ligament with surgery.
Images for kids
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Articular ligament
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Hypermobile finger
See also
In Spanish: Ligamento para niños
