suspensory ligament

noun

: a ligament or fibrous membrane suspending an organ or part: as

a. : an annular fibrous membrane of the eye continuous with the hyaloid membrane and attached to the ciliary body by its outer border and to the capsule of the crystalline lens by its inner border holding the lens in place — see eye illustration

b. : the falciform ligament of the liver

c. : a strong ligament in the foot of the horse arising from the carpal or tarsal bones and the upper part of the cannon bone, passing down and after dividing being attached to the two sesamoid bones of the fetlock and giving off a downward prolongation on each side of the great pastern bone to unite with the border of the extensor tendon

* * *

Anat.

any of several tissues that suspend certain organs or parts of the body, esp. the transparent, delicate web of fibrous tissue that supports the crystalline lens. See diag. under eye.

[1825-35]

* * *

suspensory ligament UK [səˌspensəri ˈlɪɡəmənt] US noun [countable] [singular suspensory ligament plural suspensory ligaments] medical

a set of body fibres that supports an organ or another body part, especially the one that holds the lens of your eye in place

Thesaurus: muscles and tendons_hyponym

* * *

suspensory ligament,

a supporting ligament, especially the membrane that holds the lens of the eye in place.