What exactly is an ACL?
It is important to understand the anatomy of the knee joint. The knee
is the junction of two bones, the femur (thighbone) and the tibia
(shinbone). The menisci (cartilage) lie over the surface of the tibia and
function as a shock absorber by keeping the two bones from rubbing
directly on each other. Both muscles and ligaments help to stabilize this
joint by connecting these two bones.
Ligaments are very strong bands of
collagen with elastic properties, which allow them to stretch slightly. On
the inside and outside of your knee, the medial and lateral collateral
ligaments prevent movement side to side.
The anterior (ACL) and posterior (PCL) cruciate ligaments are in the
middle of the knee and cross each other. The ACL runs from the anterior
tibia to the posterior surface of the femur; the PCL joins the posterior
tibia to the anterior femur. The ACL prevents the tibia from sliding
forward from the femur; the PCL, conversely, prevents the tibia from
sliding backwards on the femur. The quadriceps and hamstring muscles also
play a very important role in keeping the knee joint stable.
How do injuries happen?
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