The |iliotibial tract|, also called the iliotibial band, is a long, wide, band of ~fascia~ that lies over the muscles on the outer surface of the thigh. It begins superiorly at the level of the |greater trochanter| of the |femur| (upper edge of the thigh bone) and ends inferiorly where it inserts in the ~condyle~ of the |tibia|. This band is a thickening of the normal ~fascia~ that surrounds the entire leg. It is thin medially (inner thigh), but is thick laterally (outer thigh). Acting almost like a ~ligament~, this ~tendon~ helps mainly to stabilize the |knee joint|, but also acts in flexing (bending) and extending (straightening) the knee.
