Corpus: Fibular collateral ligament

The fibular collateral ligament runs along the outside of the knee and is one of the four most important ligaments of the knee joint.

The fibular collateral ligament is a strong, rounded ligament located on the lateral side of the knee. Proximally, it attaches to the lateral epicondyle of the femur, just below the groove for the tendon of the popliteus muscle. Distally, it attaches to the head of the fibula.

Most of its lateral surface is covered by the tendon of the biceps femoris muscle. It is divided into two parts by the outer ligament in front of its insertion. The inferior bursa of biceps femoris lies between the tendon and the fibular collateral ligament.

The fibular collateral ligament is not fused with the lateral meniscus.

The fibular collateral ligament stabilizes the knee joint against lateral forces (varus stress) that would otherwise open the lateral joint space and create a varus position.