Quantitative Analysis of Human Cruciate Ligament Insertions

Abstract

The objective of this study was to provide quantitative data on the insertion sites of the cruciate ligaments. In the first part of the study, we determined the shapes and sizes of the insertions of the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments (ACL and PCL), and further compared these data with the midsubstance cross-sectional areas of the ligaments. The cross-sectional area of the ACL and PCL midsubstance of 5 human knees was measured using a laser micrometer system. The insertion sites of each ligament were then digitized and the 2-dimensional insertion site areas were determined. Relative to the ligament midsubstance, the PCL tibial and femoral insertions were approximately 3 times larger, whereas those of the ACL were over 3.5 times larger. In the second part of the study, the ACLs and PCLs of 10 knees were each divided into their 2 components and the areas of each insertion were determined. Each component was approximately 50% of the total ligament insertion area and no significant difference between the 2 could be shown.