Ligaments are bands of tissue that help connect bones, joints, and organs and hold them in place. They are made of connective tissue that has a lot of strong collagen fibers in it. Ligaments come in different shapes and sizes, and most look like ropes, cords, or bands. Some are thin, like a piece of string, but others are wider. Some are even shaped in an arch. Ligaments have several important functions that help you move properly, including:

• Allowing the joint to move in the direction(s) it was meant to move.
• Holding bones together.
• Making sure that joints don’t twist.
• Stabilizing muscles and bones.
• Strengthening joints.
• Preventing bones from dislocating.

Ligaments often connect two bones together, particularly in the joints. They stabilize the joint or hold the ends of two bones together, ensuring that the bones in the joint don’t twist too much or move too far apart and become dislocated. However, there are also some ligaments that aren’t connected to bones. For instance, some make sure that internal organs are kept in place. Regardless of whether they connect bones or organs to each other, ligaments help to maintain stability in the body.