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

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

For anyone unfamiliar with the term, the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, is a ligament that connects the thigh bone and shin bone, and is essential for the kinds of pivoting, lateral, quick-stop-and-go movements essential in basketball and other contact sports. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2025

Canada will be without winger Alphonso Davies, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the Nations League semifinals in March, and defender Moise Bombito. —Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2025

Yet she’s started just 10 games since then, losing most of the last three seasons to a stubborn anterior cruciate ligament injury that took four surgeries to repair. —Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 4 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