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

Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao and David Alaba were all long-term absentees last season with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. —Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025

The 27-year-old suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injury on February 2 against Crystal Palace and is not expected to play again until next season. —Mark Critchley, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025

Two anterior cruciate ligament tears in his right knee forced him into two year-long rehab processes. —Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 18 Mar. 2025

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

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