Left Iliotibial Tract (Tractus iliotibialis sinister)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
The left iliotibial tract (iliotibial band / Maissiat band) is a robust, thickened longitudinal fascia lata band extending along the anterolateral thigh from the iliac tubercle down to Gerdy tubercle on the lateral tibial condyle. Receiving the insertions of the tensor fasciae latae and gluteus maximus, it stabilizes the extended knee joint during gait and resists lateral trunk tilt.
Clinical notes
Iliotibial band friction syndrome (ITBS) is a prevalent overuse injury in runners and cyclists caused by repetitive rubbing of the distal band over the lateral femoral epicondyle, provoking sharp lateral knee pain (positive Noble and Ober tests).
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Left Iliotibial Tract?
The left iliotibial tract (iliotibial band / Maissiat band) is a robust, thickened longitudinal fascia lata band extending along the anterolateral thigh from the iliac tubercle down to Gerdy tubercle on the lateral tibial condyle. Receiving the insertions of the tensor fasciae latae and gluteus maximus, it stabilizes the extended knee joint during gait and resists lateral trunk tilt.
Why is the Left Iliotibial Tract clinically important?
Iliotibial band friction syndrome (ITBS) is a prevalent overuse injury in runners and cyclists caused by repetitive rubbing of the distal band over the lateral femoral epicondyle, provoking sharp lateral knee pain (positive Noble and Ober tests).
Source & license
BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science licensed under CC Attribution 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). license details