The ligamentum teres (round ligament of the hip) connects the femoral head fovea to the acetabular notch, transmitting the acetabular artery (branch of the obturator artery) that is the primary blood supply to the femoral head in infancy. In adults the contribution diminishes as the lateral epiphyseal vessels become dominant, but the ligamentum teres remains a secondary hip stabiliser. Ligamentum teres tears from hip hyperadduction are a recognised cause of hip pain in athletes, requiring arthroscopic debridement.
| Origin | Margins of the acetabular notch and the transverse acetabular ligament |
|---|---|
| Insertion | Fovea of the head of the femur |
Carries the artery of the ligamentum teres to the femoral head, mainly important in childhood, and tightens in hip adduction, flexion and external rotation
Ligamentum teres tears produce groin pain reproduced by hip flexion-adduction-external rotation stress (the FADER test). MRI T1-weighted imaging shows the intact ligamentum teres as a low-signal cord in the joint. Tear or detachment indicates ligamentum teres pathology. Arthroscopic ligamentum teres debridement or reconstruction resolves pain in athletes.
Intra-articular hip ligament disruption from hyperadduction producing groin pain reproduced by FADER test managed with arthroscopic debridement.
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