Final answer:
Intrinsic ligaments are vital for joint stability, providing support and limiting motion to prevent injury by being fused to or incorporated in the articular capsule. The anterior talofibular ligament is an example, preventing excessive inversion of the foot at the ankle.
Step-by-step explanation:
The function of the short intrinsic ligament is to provide stability and support to joints in the body. These ligaments are so-named because they are fused to or incorporated within the wall of the articular capsule, which surrounds a synovial joint. An example of such a ligament is the anterior talofibular ligament, which is located on the lateral side of the ankle and helps to support the talus bone at the talocrural joint, preventing excessive inversion of the foot.
Other intrinsic ligaments, like the annular ligament in the elbow or the coracohumeral ligament in the shoulder, perform similar functions, stabilizing the bones they connect and limiting motions to prevent injury.