Anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)
The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is one of the four main ligaments within the knee that connect the femur to the tibia. The knee is essentially a hinged joint that is held together by the medial collateral (MCL), lateral collateral (LCL), anterior cruciate (ACL) and posterior cruciate (PCL) ligaments. The ACL runs diagonally in the middle of the knee, preventing the tibia from sliding out in front of the femur, as well as providing rotational stability to the knee.
Pronunciation
Anterior Cruciate Ligament: /ænˈtɪər.i.ər ˈkruː.ʃi.eɪt ˈlɪɡ.ə.mənt/
Etymology
The term "Anterior Cruciate Ligament" originates from Latin. "Anterior" means "coming before in time; earlier", "Cruciate" is derived from "Crucis" meaning "cross" and "Ligament" from "ligamentum" meaning "a band or tie," referring to the band of tough, flexible, fibrous connective tissue that holds bones together at joints.
Related Terms
- Knee: The joint that connects the thigh with the lower leg, consisting of two articulations - one between the femur and tibia, and one between the femur and patella.
- Femur: The bone located in the human thigh, it is the longest, largest, and strongest in the human body.
- Tibia: The inner and typically larger of the two bones between the knee and the ankle (or the equivalent joints in other terrestrial animals), parallel with the fibula.
- Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL): A band of tissue that connects the thighbone to the shinbone, located on the inside of the knee joint.
- Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL): A band of tissue that connects the thighbone to the fibula, located on the outside of the knee joint.
- Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL): A ligament located in the knee, which connects the femur to the tibia. The PCL is responsible for stabilizing the knee in a front to back motion.
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