US Medical Term · anatomy
Ligament
Ligamento
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Ligament |
| Spanish (Español) | Ligamento |
| Chinese (中文) | 韌帶 |
| Korean (한국어) | 인대 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Dây chằng |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Ligamento |
| Portuguese (Português) | Ligamento |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | เอ็นยึด |
| Japanese (日本語) | 靭帯 |
What it means
Ligaments are strong bands of fibrous tissue that connect bones to other bones at a joint, holding the skeleton together and keeping joints stable. Unlike tendons, which attach muscle to bone, ligaments connect bone to bone. Common ligaments include the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and MCL in the knee, and the ligaments of the ankle. Ligaments are somewhat flexible but do not stretch easily. When they are forced beyond their limits, they can become sprained or torn. A complete ligament tear may require surgery and weeks to months of rehabilitation. Ligament damage often causes pain, swelling, and joint instability.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
I sprained my ankle badly and think I may have torn a ligament.
Me torcí el tobillo gravemente y creo que pude haber desgarrado un ligamento.
The MRI showed a partial tear in the ligament of my knee.
La resonancia magnética mostró un desgarro parcial en el ligamento de la rodilla.
Do I need surgery for a torn ligament, or can it heal without it?
¿Necesito cirugía por el ligamento desgarrado, o puede sanar sin operación?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026