Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
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Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of four knee ligaments that connect the upper leg bone (femur) with the lower leg bone (tibia) by running crosswise inside the center of the knee joint. The ACL stabilizes knee movement in a forward and backward direction.
Specifically, the ACL prevents the tibia from sliding forward or turning inward when the leg is straight and prevents the knee from being stretched or straightened beyond its normal limits (hyperextended). It also supports other knee ligaments that keep the knee from bending sideways.
Credits
| Author | Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Associate Editor | Michele Cronen |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Freddie H. Fu, MD - Orthopedic Surgery |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Patrick J. McMahon, MD - Orthopedics |
| Last Updated | May 16, 2008 |
| Last updated: | May 16, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH |
| Reviewed By: | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine, Patrick J. McMahon, MD - Orthopedics |
| Editors: | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC |
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