anterior cruciate ligament

noun

: a cruciate ligament of each knee that attaches the front of the tibia with the back of the femur and functions especially to prevent hyperextension of the knee and is subject to injury especially by tearing

called also ACL

Examples of anterior cruciate ligament in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Spaniard has been a huge miss for Guardiola since an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injury in September. —Andy Naylor, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025

Both suffered ruptures to their anterior cruciate ligaments at the start of 2024 and neither has yet returned to first-team action, although both have resumed training. —Asif Burhan, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025

Brockhoff previously tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a crash at the 2017 World Championships and competed at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games without an ACL. —Julia Andersen, CNN, 11 Mar. 2025

But Militao, who also tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) last season, still has a long way to go in his eight-month recovery and is not expected to play for the rest of the campaign. —Mario Cortegana, The Athletic, 7 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

anterior cruciate ligament

noun

: a cruciate ligament of each knee that is attached in front to the more medial aspect of the tibia, that passes upward, backward, and laterally through the middle of the knee crossing the posterior cruciate ligament to attach to the femur, that functions to prevent hyperextension of the knee and to keep the tibia from sliding forward in relation to the femur, and that is subject to sports injury especially by tearing

called also ACL