Which statement about the iliotibial band is true?

• A. The longest tendon in the human body
• B. A muscle that flexes the knee
• C. Originates on the femur
• D. A ligament stabilizing the ankle

Answer: (A)

The iliotibial band is a thick sheath of fascia that runs along the outside of the thigh from the hip to the shin. It isn’t a tendon, and it isn’t a muscle. It doesn’t originate directly on the femur; its proximal relationship is with the hip muscles (the tensor fasciae latae and gluteus maximus) through fascia, and it inserts on the tibia at Gerdy’s tubercle to help transmit hip forces down the leg. Its main role is to stabilize the knee during activities like walking or running, not to act as a tendon, muscle, or ankle ligament. For context, the longest tendon in the body is the Achilles tendon, so describing the iliotibial band as the longest tendon isn’t accurate. The key idea is that the IT band is a dense fascial structure that helps stabilize the knee, rather than a tendon, muscle, or ligament.