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

Dressing-room figures compare it to the process Gavi underwent after returning from his anterior cruciate ligament injury last term. —Pol Ballús, New York Times, 9 July 2025

Back then, one day before the start of the Euros in England, then Ballon d’Or holder Alexia Putellas injured her anterior cruciate ligament and had to withdraw from the squad. —Laia Cervelló Herrero, New York Times, 29 June 2025

The team was knocked out by eventual winner England in the quarterfinals in 2022 after fellow two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) three days before the start of the tournament. —Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 28 June 2025

Sophie Ingle’s inclusion is a boon, the midfielder, who recently left Chelsea as a free agent after eight years at the club across two spells, as a free agent, having returned to fitness following an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injury in September. —Megan Feringa, New York Times, 19 June 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