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

Standout players If Davies’ anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in March 2025 wasn’t enough to cause Canada a scare, a tear in his right hamstring this February followed by another muscle injury in his left in May poses questions about his participation in the World Cup. —Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 5 June 2026

Bulls guard Derrick Rose — who had already missed 27 games during the 2011-12 season with back, groin, toe, ankle and foot injuries — tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee with 1:22 left to play in the Eastern Conference quarterfinal opener against the Philadelphia 76ers. —Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026

Lynch’s only other health updates: defensive ends Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams both should be ready for training camp after anterior cruciate ligament repairs; linebacker Nick Martin is cleared from a late-season concussion. —Cam Inman, Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2026

Also absent will be Rodrygo Goes, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his knee against Getafe last week. —Sam Leveridge, Forbes.com, 7 Mar. 2026

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