collateral ligament

Introduction

One of several ligaments on either side of a joint, serving as a radius of hinge-like movement.

Collateral ligaments occur at the:

• elbow
• knee
• wrist
• metacarpophalangeal joints
• metatarsophalangeal joints
• proximal interphalangeal joints of the hands & feet
• distal interphalangeal joints of the hands & feet

More specific terms

• fibular collateral ligament (lateral collateral ligament)
• medial collateral ligament (MCL)
• radial collateral ligament of elbow
• radial collateral ligament of wrist
• tibial collateral ligament (medial collateral ligament)
• ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow (medial collateral ligament)
• ulnar collateral ligament of the wrist (ligamentum collaterale carpi ulnare)