posterior cruciate ligament

noun

: a cruciate ligament of each knee that attaches the back of the tibia with the front of the femur and functions especially to limit the backward motion of the tibia

Examples of posterior cruciate ligament in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Pearsall injured the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in Week 4 last season, after posting a pair of 100-yard outings in the first three games. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 1 Aug. 2026

The surgery will repair his posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). — Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026

The 49ers said Wednesday that Pearsall is dealing with swelling in the right knee that is related to the posterior cruciate ligament injury that forced him to miss eight games in the 2025 regular season. — CBS News, 29 July 2026

His mobility has steadily increased since the late April surgery to repair damage to the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1981, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

posterior cruciate ligament

noun

: a cruciate ligament of each knee that is attached medially in back between the condyles of the tibia, that passes upward and forward through the middle of the knee crossing the anterior cruciate ligament to attach to the medial aspect of the femur, that functions to prevent hyperflexion of the knee and to keep the tibia from sliding backward in relation to the femur when the knee is flexed, and that is stronger and less subject to sports injury by tearing than the anterior cruciate ligament

called also PCL