Posterior cruciate ligament
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additional PCL educational information
{{Infobox Ligament |
Name = {{PAGENAME}} |
Latin = ligamentum cruciatum posterius genus |
GraySubject = 93 |
GrayPage = 342 |
Image = Knee diagram.svg |
Caption = Diagram of the knee |
Image2 = |
Caption2 = |
From = [[posterior intercondylar area]] of the [[tibia]] |
To = [[Medial condyle of femur|medial condyle]] of the [[femur]] |
MeshName = Posterior+Cruciate+Ligament |
MeshNumber = A02.513.514.600 |
DorlandsPre = l_09 |
DorlandsSuf = 12492130 |
}}
The '''posterior cruciate ligament''' (or PCL) is one of the four major [[ligament]]s of the [[knee]]. It connects the [[posterior intercondylar area]] of the [[tibia]] to the [[Medial condyle of femur|medial condyle]] of the [[femur]]. This configuration allows the PCL to resist forces pushing the tibia posteriorly relative to the femur.
==Injury==
The posterior [[drawer test]] is used by doctors to detect injury to the PCL.
The posterior cruciate ligament is a section of the patellar tendon joining medially to the lateral quadriceps femoris.
Surgery to repair the Posterior Cruciate ligament is controversial due to its placement and technical difficulty.<ref>{{cite website
|author = Jonathan Cluett, M.D.
|url = http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/kneeinjuries/a/pcl.htm
|title = Injuries to the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)
|publisher = about.com
|date = 2003-08-05
|accessdate = 2006-11-11
}}</ref>
==Additional images==
<gallery>
Image:Gray348.png|Left knee-joint from behind, showing interior ligaments.
Image:Gray349.png|Head of right tibia seen from above, showing menisci and attachments of ligaments.
Image:Gray352.png|Capsule of right knee-joint (distended). Posterior aspect.
</gallery>
==References==
<references/>
==External links==
* {{eMedicineDictionary|Posterior+cruciate+ligament}}
* {{MedicalMnemonics|2081|||}}
* {{NormanAnatomy|lljoints}} ({{NormanAnatomyFig|antkneejointopenflexed}})
* http://www.cincinnatisportsmed.com/csm/index.asp?ipath=patedu/knee/pcl.htm
[[Category:Ligaments]]
[[Category:Pelvic limb anatomy]]
{{Joints of lower limbs}}
{{musculoskeletal-stub}}
[[fr:Ligament croisé postérieur]]
[[pl:Więzadło krzyżowe tylne]]
[[pt:Ligamento cruzado posterior]]