Bänder

Bänder is the plural of Band in German. The term covers a variety of long, flexible strips or bands made of fabric, leather, metal or plastic. Common uses include ribbons, belts, straps and decorative or functional bindings. The word can also denote a strip in a sequence or a categorical range, such as a color band or a radio frequency band.

In anatomy, Bänder refers to ligaments, fibrous bands of connective tissue that connect bones and stabilize joints. They are primarily composed of collagen and differ from tendons, which attach muscles to bones. Typical examples include the Kreuzbänder (anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments) in the knee and the Seitenbänder (medial and lateral collateral ligaments). Injuries to ligaments can cause sprains or tears and may require medical treatment or rehabilitation.

In culture and everyday language, Band is often used to describe a musical group (die Band, plural die Bands) or to name objects like hairbands, wristbands, or elastic bands such as Gummiband. In scientific and technical contexts, Band can describe a range or stripe, as in Farbband (color band) or Frequenzband (frequency band). The word thus encompasses a broad set of meanings tied by the idea of a stretched or connected strip.