Ligament

(lig'a-ment.) [From L. ligo, ligatus, to bind.] (Anat.) A membranous expansion of white fibrous ti ue, which plays an extremely important part in the mechanism of joints, seeing that they pa in fixed directions from one bone to another, and serve to limit some movements of a joint, while they allow others to act freely. They are divided generally into capsular ligaments, which surround the joints like a bag, and connecting ligaments. [s. 543]