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Posterior Cruciate Ligament

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Description

(A) Anterior and (B) posterior views of the native posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). Emphasized are the femoral and tibial attachments of the anterolateral bundle (ALB) and posteromedial bundle (PMB) of the PCL and the osseous landmarks: the trochlear point, the medial arch point, the bundle ridge, and the champagne-glass drop-off. ACL, anterior cruciate ligament; aMFL, anterior meniscofemoral ligament (ligament of Humphrey); FCL, fibular collateral ligament; PFL, popliteofibular ligament; pMFL, posterior meniscofemoral ligament (ligament of Wrisberg); POL, posterior oblique ligament[1]
Schematic illustration of the anatomy of the posterior cruciate and the meniscofemoral ligaments. a Right knee from an antero-lateral view. b Right knee from a posterior view. ACL anterior cruciate ligament; ALB anterolateral bundle; aMFL anterior meniscofemoral ligament; LCL lateral collateral ligament; LM lateral meniscus; MCL medial collateral ligament; MM medial meniscus; PFL popliteofibular ligament; PMB posteromedial bundle; pMFL posterior meniscofemoral ligament; PT popliteus tendon[2]
Normal PCL in the sagittal plane of this knee MRI[3]
Ligamentous anatomy of the knee[4]

Name

  • Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL)
  • Caudal cruciate ligament

General

Anatomic Description

  • Gross Anatomy
    • Originates from the lateral edge of the medial femoral condyle, roof of the intercondylar notch
    • Stretches posterior and lateral towards posterior surface of the tibia, just below the articular edge
  • Anterolateral bundle (ALB)
    • Makes up around 65% of the substance of the PCL and is tight in flexion
    • Femoral attachment larger than tibial attachment
    • Ranges from 112-118 mm2
  • Posteromedial bundles (PMB)
    • Makes up the other 35% of the PCL and is tight in extension.
    • Ranges from 60-90 mm2

Actions

  • Primary Function
    • Prevent posterior displacement or translation of the tibia on the femur at all flexion angles
    • ALB: main resistant to posterior tibial translation between 70° and 105°
    • PMB: main resistant between 0° and 15°
    • Primary restraint for internal rotation beyond 90°[5]
  • Secondary function
    • Limits varus and valgus stress
    • Assists in proprioception
    • Screw home mechanism
    • Supplemental restraint to external tibial rotation beyond 90° of flexion

Vascular Supply

  • Middle Geniculate Artery

Innervation

Clinical Significance

See Also

References

  1. ↑ Pache, Santiago, et al. "Posterior cruciate ligament: current concepts review." Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery 6.1 (2018): 8.
  2. ↑ Winkler, Philipp W., et al. "Evolving evidence in the treatment of primary and recurrent posterior cruciate ligament injuries, part 1: anatomy, biomechanics and diagnostics." Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy 29 (2021): 672-681.
  3. ↑ Case courtesy of Andrew Dixon, Radiopaedia.org, rID: 22993
  4. ↑ Rohen, Johannes Wilhelm, Chihiro Yokochi, and Elke Lütjen-Drecoll. Color atlas of anatomy: a photographic study of the human body. Schattauer Verlag, 2006.
  5. ↑ Kennedy NI, Wijdicks CA, Goldsmith MT, Michalski MP, Devitt BM, Årøen A, et al. Kinematic analysis of the posterior cruciate ligament, part 1: the individual and collective function of the anterolateral and posteromedial bundles. Am J Sports Med. 2013;41(12):e2828–38.
Created by:
John Kiel on 9 July 2019 02:04:53
Authors:
Last edited:
22 September 2025 20:31:49
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