{"id":{"repo_id":"stellenbosch","oai_identifier":"oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/135540"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/stellenbosch/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/135540","repository":{"repo_id":"stellenbosch","name":"Stellenbosch University","base_url":"https://scholar.sun.ac.za/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"An investigation into the anatomical and proteomic properties of the anterolateral ligament (all)","abstract":"ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The anterolateral ligament (ALL) of the knee has recently been a focus of attention, following suggestions that it plays an important role in internal tibial rotation and is involved in the development of anterolateral rotational instability, particularly after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury (1-19). Despite all the attention, there is still significant uncertainty about the prevalence, exact anatomy, imaging appearance, and molecular identity of the ALL (1-19). These knowledge gaps are further complicated by inconsistent anatomical descriptions, methodological variability between studies, and ongoing debates regarding whether the ALL represents a distinct ligament or a thickening of the joint capsule. The current study aimed to fill these gaps by exploring the ALL through an integrated, multimodal approach comprising of ultrasound imaging, fresh-frozen anatomical body donor dissection, morphometric analysis, and proteomic profiling. Twenty-nine fresh-frozen lower limbs from adult donors were utilised to assess the prevalence and morphometric characteristics of the ALL and the fibular collateral ligament (FCL). Ultrasound scanning was performed prior to dissection to evaluate the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of sonographic identification of the ligament. After anatomical isolation, measurements of ligament length, femoral-, and tibial attachment widths, were gathered for both the ALL and FCL. Finally, the proteomic analysis by the Centre for Proteomic and Genomic Research (CPGR) was performed to compare the protein abundance patterns between the two ligaments. This research utilised ultrasound evaluation, anatomical dissection, and exploratory morphometric and proteomic analysis to examine the properties of the anterolateral ligament. While the ultrasound evaluation demonstrated favourable diagnostic properties within the cohort, the limited number of knees positive for the ALL necessitates that these findings be regarded as preliminary. The morphometric and proteomic analysis were descriptive and exploratory. Although the results showed the presence of structural and molecular properties typical of ligaments, they were not intended to offer confirmatory evidence for classification. Ultrasound showed high specificity (96%) and good overall diagnostic performance (accuracy of 91%, sensitivity of 63%) in a subset (n=7, 12.1% of total knees) of limbs. These findings suggest that although the utility of ultrasound for detecting the ALL is limited in donor tissue, it may have potential clinical relevance if combined with higher-resolution imaging or used in the living patient. Anatomical dissection demonstrated an ALL prevalence of 13.8%. Morphometric findings demonstrated no significant side differences in FCL dimensions and no significant differences between the ALL and FCL in terms of ligament length or tibial attachment width. A significant difference in femoral attachment width was demonstrated, with the FCL demonstrating a broader origin, when compared to the ALL. Proteomic profiling yielded the first molecular data on the ALL. The ALL and FCL showed highly similar extracellular matrix (ECM) composition, including type I collagen, type III collagen, decorin, biglycan, fibronectin, and tenascin-C-proteins characteristic of load-bearing ligaments. The FCL showed higher collagen abundance, and the ALL demonstrated high levels of decorin (20-22). In conclusion, this study provides new anatomical, imaging, and biochemical insights into the ALL, representing the first combined investigation of its structural and proteomic characteristics. The findings further support the potential biomechanical role of the ALL in rotational knee stability and provide basic data for future anatomical, biomechanical, and clinical studies.","abstract_html":"ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The anterolateral ligament (ALL) of the knee has recently been a focus of attention, following suggestions that it plays an important role in internal tibial rotation and is involved in the development of anterolateral rotational instability, particularly after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury (1-19). Despite all the attention, there is still significant uncertainty about the prevalence, exact anatomy, imaging appearance, and molecular identity of the ALL (1-19). These knowledge gaps are further complicated by inconsistent anatomical descriptions, methodological variability between studies, and ongoing debates regarding whether the ALL represents a distinct ligament or a thickening of the joint capsule. The current study aimed to fill these gaps by exploring the ALL through an integrated, multimodal approach comprising of ultrasound imaging, fresh-frozen anatomical body donor dissection, morphometric analysis, and proteomic profiling. Twenty-nine fresh-frozen lower limbs from adult donors were utilised to assess the prevalence and morphometric characteristics of the ALL and the fibular collateral ligament (FCL). Ultrasound scanning was performed prior to dissection to evaluate the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of sonographic identification of the ligament. After anatomical isolation, measurements of ligament length, femoral-, and tibial attachment widths, were gathered for both the ALL and FCL. Finally, the proteomic analysis by the Centre for Proteomic and Genomic Research (CPGR) was performed to compare the protein abundance patterns between the two ligaments. This research utilised ultrasound evaluation, anatomical dissection, and exploratory morphometric and proteomic analysis to examine the properties of the anterolateral ligament. While the ultrasound evaluation demonstrated favourable diagnostic properties within the cohort, the limited number of knees positive for the ALL necessitates that these findings be regarded as preliminary. The morphometric and proteomic analysis were descriptive and exploratory. Although the results showed the presence of structural and molecular properties typical of ligaments, they were not intended to offer confirmatory evidence for classification. Ultrasound showed high specificity (96%) and good overall diagnostic performance (accuracy of 91%, sensitivity of 63%) in a subset (n=7, 12.1% of total knees) of limbs. These findings suggest that although the utility of ultrasound for detecting the ALL is limited in donor tissue, it may have potential clinical relevance if combined with higher-resolution imaging or used in the living patient. Anatomical dissection demonstrated an ALL prevalence of 13.8%. Morphometric findings demonstrated no significant side differences in FCL dimensions and no significant differences between the ALL and FCL in terms of ligament length or tibial attachment width. A significant difference in femoral attachment width was demonstrated, with the FCL demonstrating a broader origin, when compared to the ALL. Proteomic profiling yielded the first molecular data on the ALL. The ALL and FCL showed highly similar extracellular matrix (ECM) composition, including type I collagen, type III collagen, decorin, biglycan, fibronectin, and tenascin-C-proteins characteristic of load-bearing ligaments. The FCL showed higher collagen abundance, and the ALL demonstrated high levels of decorin (20-22). In conclusion, this study provides new anatomical, imaging, and biochemical insights into the ALL, representing the first combined investigation of its structural and proteomic characteristics. The findings further support the potential biomechanical role of the ALL in rotational knee stability and provide basic data for future anatomical, biomechanical, and clinical studies.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Zehrt, Megan"],"institution":"Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Briers, Nanette","Correia, Janine"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2026,"date_issued":"2026-03","date_published":"2026-03","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:40:12Z","subjects":[],"languages":["en"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/135540","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Briers, Nanette","Correia, Janine"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.other","label":"Dc Contributor Other","values":["Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Biomedical Sciences. Division of Clinical Anatomy."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Zehrt, Megan"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2026-04-01T08:12:27Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2026-04-01T08:12:27Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2026-03"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/135540"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2026.","Zehrt, M. 2026. An investigation into the anatomical and proteomic properties of the anterolateral ligament (all). Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/bdbe53c7-3585-4bcb-93b3-443acf8a0a26"]},{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The anterolateral ligament (ALL) of the knee has recently been a focus of attention, following suggestions that it plays an important role in internal tibial rotation and is involved in the development of anterolateral rotational instability, particularly after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury (1-19). Despite all the attention, there is still significant uncertainty about the prevalence, exact anatomy, imaging appearance, and molecular identity of the ALL (1-19). These knowledge gaps are further complicated by inconsistent anatomical descriptions, methodological variability between studies, and ongoing debates regarding whether the ALL represents a distinct ligament or a thickening of the joint capsule. The current study aimed to fill these gaps by exploring the ALL through an integrated, multimodal approach comprising of ultrasound imaging, fresh-frozen anatomical body donor dissection, morphometric analysis, and proteomic profiling. Twenty-nine fresh-frozen lower limbs from adult donors were utilised to assess the prevalence and morphometric characteristics of the ALL and the fibular collateral ligament (FCL). Ultrasound scanning was performed prior to dissection to evaluate the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of sonographic identification of the ligament. After anatomical isolation, measurements of ligament length, femoral-, and tibial attachment widths, were gathered for both the ALL and FCL. Finally, the proteomic analysis by the Centre for Proteomic and Genomic Research (CPGR) was performed to compare the protein abundance patterns between the two ligaments. This research utilised ultrasound evaluation, anatomical dissection, and exploratory morphometric and proteomic analysis to examine the properties of the anterolateral ligament. While the ultrasound evaluation demonstrated favourable diagnostic properties within the cohort, the limited number of knees positive for the ALL necessitates that these findings be regarded as preliminary. The morphometric and proteomic analysis were descriptive and exploratory. Although the results showed the presence of structural and molecular properties typical of ligaments, they were not intended to offer confirmatory evidence for classification. Ultrasound showed high specificity (96%) and good overall diagnostic performance (accuracy of 91%, sensitivity of 63%) in a subset (n=7, 12.1% of total knees) of limbs. These findings suggest that although the utility of ultrasound for detecting the ALL is limited in donor tissue, it may have potential clinical relevance if combined with higher-resolution imaging or used in the living patient. Anatomical dissection demonstrated an ALL prevalence of 13.8%. Morphometric findings demonstrated no significant side differences in FCL dimensions and no significant differences between the ALL and FCL in terms of ligament length or tibial attachment width. A significant difference in femoral attachment width was demonstrated, with the FCL demonstrating a broader origin, when compared to the ALL. Proteomic profiling yielded the first molecular data on the ALL. The ALL and FCL showed highly similar extracellular matrix (ECM) composition, including type I collagen, type III collagen, decorin, biglycan, fibronectin, and tenascin-C-proteins characteristic of load-bearing ligaments. The FCL showed higher collagen abundance, and the ALL demonstrated high levels of decorin (20-22). In conclusion, this study provides new anatomical, imaging, and biochemical insights into the ALL, representing the first combined investigation of its structural and proteomic characteristics. The findings further support the potential biomechanical role of the ALL in rotational knee stability and provide basic data for future anatomical, biomechanical, and clinical studies.","AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die anterolaterale ligament van die knie het die afgelope dekade toenemende aandag ontvang. Dit word beweer dat die ligament ‘n rol speel in die beheer van interne tibiale rotasie en anterolaterale stabiliteit, veral in die konteks van anterior kruis ligament beserings(1-19). Ten spyte van hierdie belangstelling bestaan daar steeds beduidende onsekerhede oor die voorkoms, presiese anatomie, eienskappe van ultraklank beelde en molekulêre identiteit van die anterolaterale ligament (1-19). Hierdie tekort aan kennis word verder vererger deur uiteenlopende anatomiese beskrywings, metodologiese variasies tussen studies en die voortdurende debat oor of die anterolaterale ligament ’n afsonderlike ligament verteenwoordig of bloot ’n verdikking van die gewrig kapsule is. Die doel van hierdie studie was om hierdie tekort komende informasie aan te spreek deur die anterolaterale ligament te ondersoek deur middel van ’n geïntegreerde, multimodale benadering wat ultraklank beelding, vars-gevriesde liggaam skenker disseksie, morfometriese ontleding en proteomiese profilering ingesluit het. Nege-en-twintig vars-gevriesde onderste ledemate van volwasse skenkers was gebruik om die voorkoms en morfometriese kenmerke van die anterolaterale ligament en die fibulêre kollaterale ligament te bepaal. Ultraklank skanderings is voor disseksie uitgevoer om die akkuraatheid, sensitiwiteit en spesifisiteit van die sonografiese identifikasie van die ligament te evalueer. Na anatomiese isolasie is metings van die ligament se lengtes en die breedtes van die femorale- en tibiale aanhegtings punte, vir beide die anterolaterale ligament en fibulêre kollaterale ligament verkry. Ten slotte was die proteomiese analise, uitgevoer deur die “Centre for Proteomic and Genomic Research (CPGR)”, gebruik om proteïen hoeveelhede tussen die twee ligamente te vergelyk. Hierdie navorsing het ultraklank-evaluering, anatomiese disseksie, en verkennende morfometriese en proteomiese analise benut om die eienskappe van die anterolaterale ligament te ondersoek. Die ultraklankevaluering het goeie diagnostiese eienskappe binne die studiepopulasie getoon, egter, weens die klein aantal ALL-positiewe knieë, moet hierdie resultate as voorlopig beskou word. Die morfometriese en proteomiese analises was beskrywend en verkennend van aard. Alhoewel die resultate die teenwoordigheid van strukturele en molekulêre eienskappe tipies van ligamente aangetoon het, was dit nie bedoel om bevestigende bewys vir klassifikasie te lewer nie. Ultraklank het hoë spesifisiteit (96%) en goeie algehele diagnostiese prestasie (akkuraatheid van 91%, sensitiwiteit van 63%) in 'n subgroep (n=7, 12.1% van totale knieë) van ledemate getoon. Hierdie bevindings dui daarop dat ultraklank, ondanks beperkings in weefsel van liggaam skenkers, wel potensiaal het vir kliniese toepassing en kan moontlik in lewende pasiënte gebruik word. Anatomiese disseksie het ’n anterolaterale ligament voorkoms van 13.8% getoon. Morfometriese ontledings het geen betekenisvolle links-regs verskille in fibulêre kollaterale ligament dimensies getoon nie. Daar was ook geen beduidende verskille tussen die anterolaterale ligament en fibulêre kollaterale ligament se ligament lengtes of tibiale aanhegtings breedtes nie. ’n Betekenisvolle verskil was wel gevind in die femorale aanhegtings breedte, waar die fibulêre kollaterale ligament ’n wyer oorsprong getoon het in vergelyking met die anterolaterale ligament. Die proteomiese ontleding lewer ’n belangrike bydrae as die eerste molekulêre karakterisering van die anterolaterale ligament. Die anterolaterale ligament en fibulêre kollaterale ligament het uiters soortgelyke ekstrasellulêre matrikse samestellings getoon, insluitend tipe I- en tipe III-kollageen, dekorien, biglikan, fibronektien en tenasien-C proteïene wat tipies in hoë-lading ligamente voorkom. Die fibulêre kollaterale ligament het hoër kollageen vlakke getoon, terwyl die anterolaterale ligament hoër vlakke van dekorien gehad het (20-22). Ten slotte verskaf hierdie studie nuwe anatomiese, ultraklank- en biochemiese insigte in die anterolaterale ligament en verteenwoordig die eerste gekombineerde ondersoek van die ligament se strukturele en proteomiese kenmerke. Die bevindings versterk die moontlikheid dat die anterolaterale ligament ’n rol speel in die beheer van stabiliteit van die knie tydens rotasie en bied ’n waardevolle basis vir toekomstige anatomiese-, biomeganiese- en kliniese navorsing."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["An investigation into the anatomical and proteomic properties of the anterolateral ligament (all)"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Briers, Nanette","Correia, Janine"],"dc:contributor.other":["Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Biomedical Sciences. Division of Clinical Anatomy."],"dc:creator":["Zehrt, Megan"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2026-04-01T08:12:27Z"],"dc:date.available":["2026-04-01T08:12:27Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2026-03"],"dc:description":["Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2026.","Zehrt, M. 2026. An investigation into the anatomical and proteomic properties of the anterolateral ligament (all). Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/bdbe53c7-3585-4bcb-93b3-443acf8a0a26"],"dc:description.abstract":["ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The anterolateral ligament (ALL) of the knee has recently been a focus of attention, following suggestions that it plays an important role in internal tibial rotation and is involved in the development of anterolateral rotational instability, particularly after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury (1-19). Despite all the attention, there is still significant uncertainty about the prevalence, exact anatomy, imaging appearance, and molecular identity of the ALL (1-19). These knowledge gaps are further complicated by inconsistent anatomical descriptions, methodological variability between studies, and ongoing debates regarding whether the ALL represents a distinct ligament or a thickening of the joint capsule. The current study aimed to fill these gaps by exploring the ALL through an integrated, multimodal approach comprising of ultrasound imaging, fresh-frozen anatomical body donor dissection, morphometric analysis, and proteomic profiling. Twenty-nine fresh-frozen lower limbs from adult donors were utilised to assess the prevalence and morphometric characteristics of the ALL and the fibular collateral ligament (FCL). Ultrasound scanning was performed prior to dissection to evaluate the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of sonographic identification of the ligament. After anatomical isolation, measurements of ligament length, femoral-, and tibial attachment widths, were gathered for both the ALL and FCL. Finally, the proteomic analysis by the Centre for Proteomic and Genomic Research (CPGR) was performed to compare the protein abundance patterns between the two ligaments. This research utilised ultrasound evaluation, anatomical dissection, and exploratory morphometric and proteomic analysis to examine the properties of the anterolateral ligament. While the ultrasound evaluation demonstrated favourable diagnostic properties within the cohort, the limited number of knees positive for the ALL necessitates that these findings be regarded as preliminary. The morphometric and proteomic analysis were descriptive and exploratory. Although the results showed the presence of structural and molecular properties typical of ligaments, they were not intended to offer confirmatory evidence for classification. Ultrasound showed high specificity (96%) and good overall diagnostic performance (accuracy of 91%, sensitivity of 63%) in a subset (n=7, 12.1% of total knees) of limbs. These findings suggest that although the utility of ultrasound for detecting the ALL is limited in donor tissue, it may have potential clinical relevance if combined with higher-resolution imaging or used in the living patient. Anatomical dissection demonstrated an ALL prevalence of 13.8%. Morphometric findings demonstrated no significant side differences in FCL dimensions and no significant differences between the ALL and FCL in terms of ligament length or tibial attachment width. A significant difference in femoral attachment width was demonstrated, with the FCL demonstrating a broader origin, when compared to the ALL. Proteomic profiling yielded the first molecular data on the ALL. The ALL and FCL showed highly similar extracellular matrix (ECM) composition, including type I collagen, type III collagen, decorin, biglycan, fibronectin, and tenascin-C-proteins characteristic of load-bearing ligaments. The FCL showed higher collagen abundance, and the ALL demonstrated high levels of decorin (20-22). In conclusion, this study provides new anatomical, imaging, and biochemical insights into the ALL, representing the first combined investigation of its structural and proteomic characteristics. The findings further support the potential biomechanical role of the ALL in rotational knee stability and provide basic data for future anatomical, biomechanical, and clinical studies.","AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die anterolaterale ligament van die knie het die afgelope dekade toenemende aandag ontvang. Dit word beweer dat die ligament ‘n rol speel in die beheer van interne tibiale rotasie en anterolaterale stabiliteit, veral in die konteks van anterior kruis ligament beserings(1-19). Ten spyte van hierdie belangstelling bestaan daar steeds beduidende onsekerhede oor die voorkoms, presiese anatomie, eienskappe van ultraklank beelde en molekulêre identiteit van die anterolaterale ligament (1-19). Hierdie tekort aan kennis word verder vererger deur uiteenlopende anatomiese beskrywings, metodologiese variasies tussen studies en die voortdurende debat oor of die anterolaterale ligament ’n afsonderlike ligament verteenwoordig of bloot ’n verdikking van die gewrig kapsule is. Die doel van hierdie studie was om hierdie tekort komende informasie aan te spreek deur die anterolaterale ligament te ondersoek deur middel van ’n geïntegreerde, multimodale benadering wat ultraklank beelding, vars-gevriesde liggaam skenker disseksie, morfometriese ontleding en proteomiese profilering ingesluit het. Nege-en-twintig vars-gevriesde onderste ledemate van volwasse skenkers was gebruik om die voorkoms en morfometriese kenmerke van die anterolaterale ligament en die fibulêre kollaterale ligament te bepaal. Ultraklank skanderings is voor disseksie uitgevoer om die akkuraatheid, sensitiwiteit en spesifisiteit van die sonografiese identifikasie van die ligament te evalueer. Na anatomiese isolasie is metings van die ligament se lengtes en die breedtes van die femorale- en tibiale aanhegtings punte, vir beide die anterolaterale ligament en fibulêre kollaterale ligament verkry. Ten slotte was die proteomiese analise, uitgevoer deur die “Centre for Proteomic and Genomic Research (CPGR)”, gebruik om proteïen hoeveelhede tussen die twee ligamente te vergelyk. Hierdie navorsing het ultraklank-evaluering, anatomiese disseksie, en verkennende morfometriese en proteomiese analise benut om die eienskappe van die anterolaterale ligament te ondersoek. Die ultraklankevaluering het goeie diagnostiese eienskappe binne die studiepopulasie getoon, egter, weens die klein aantal ALL-positiewe knieë, moet hierdie resultate as voorlopig beskou word. Die morfometriese en proteomiese analises was beskrywend en verkennend van aard. Alhoewel die resultate die teenwoordigheid van strukturele en molekulêre eienskappe tipies van ligamente aangetoon het, was dit nie bedoel om bevestigende bewys vir klassifikasie te lewer nie. Ultraklank het hoë spesifisiteit (96%) en goeie algehele diagnostiese prestasie (akkuraatheid van 91%, sensitiwiteit van 63%) in 'n subgroep (n=7, 12.1% van totale knieë) van ledemate getoon. Hierdie bevindings dui daarop dat ultraklank, ondanks beperkings in weefsel van liggaam skenkers, wel potensiaal het vir kliniese toepassing en kan moontlik in lewende pasiënte gebruik word. Anatomiese disseksie het ’n anterolaterale ligament voorkoms van 13.8% getoon. Morfometriese ontledings het geen betekenisvolle links-regs verskille in fibulêre kollaterale ligament dimensies getoon nie. Daar was ook geen beduidende verskille tussen die anterolaterale ligament en fibulêre kollaterale ligament se ligament lengtes of tibiale aanhegtings breedtes nie. ’n Betekenisvolle verskil was wel gevind in die femorale aanhegtings breedte, waar die fibulêre kollaterale ligament ’n wyer oorsprong getoon het in vergelyking met die anterolaterale ligament. Die proteomiese ontleding lewer ’n belangrike bydrae as die eerste molekulêre karakterisering van die anterolaterale ligament. Die anterolaterale ligament en fibulêre kollaterale ligament het uiters soortgelyke ekstrasellulêre matrikse samestellings getoon, insluitend tipe I- en tipe III-kollageen, dekorien, biglikan, fibronektien en tenasien-C proteïene wat tipies in hoë-lading ligamente voorkom. Die fibulêre kollaterale ligament het hoër kollageen vlakke getoon, terwyl die anterolaterale ligament hoër vlakke van dekorien gehad het (20-22). Ten slotte verskaf hierdie studie nuwe anatomiese, ultraklank- en biochemiese insigte in die anterolaterale ligament en verteenwoordig die eerste gekombineerde ondersoek van die ligament se strukturele en proteomiese kenmerke. Die bevindings versterk die moontlikheid dat die anterolaterale ligament ’n rol speel in die beheer van stabiliteit van die knie tydens rotasie en bied ’n waardevolle basis vir toekomstige anatomiese-, biomeganiese- en kliniese navorsing."],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/135540"],"dc:language.iso":["en"],"dc:publisher":["Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University"],"dc:title":["An investigation into the anatomical and proteomic properties of the anterolateral ligament (all)"],"dc:type":["Thesis"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:40:12Z"}