Lateral Collateral Ligament, Lateral View

Description

Seen from the lateral aspect of an adult male knee, the lateral (fibular) collateral ligament appears as a narrow, cord-like band spanning from the lateral epicondyle of the femur to the head of the fibula. Deep and slightly posterior to the iliotibial tract, it crosses the lateral joint line and lies superficial to the popliteus tendon as that tendon enters the posterior knee. The fibula sits lateral to the tibia, and the proximal tibiofibular region forms an inferior landmark for the ligament’s distal attachment. The lateral femoral condyle and adjacent capsule provide the proximal bony context. This projection matters because it separates two structures that are often conflated clinically, the iliotibial band and the lateral collateral ligament, and it makes the LCL’s extracapsular course easy to teach. Varus stress injuries commonly disrupt the LCL near the fibular head, frequently alongside posterolateral corner structures such as the popliteofibular ligament and biceps femoris tendon, and missing that pattern can leave a knee unstable despite an intact ACL. Palpation and varus stress testing at 0 and 30 degrees of flexion map directly onto the relationships shown here. Clear landmarks. Use this artwork for orthopedic teaching on lateral knee stability, sports medicine modules on varus and posterolateral corner injury patterns, and surgical orientation when describing lateral approaches that work around the fibular head and the nearby common fibular (peroneal) nerve. It also fits radiology and MSK ultrasound education when correlating surface anatomy with the expected ligament trajectory. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.