Cruciate ligaments (also cruciform ligaments) are pairs of
ligament
A ligament is a type of fibrous connective tissue in the body that connects bones to other bones. It also connects flight feathers to bones, in dinosaurs and birds. All 30,000 species of amniotes (land animals with internal bones) have liga ...
s arranged like a letter
X. They occur in several
joint
A joint or articulation (or articular surface) is the connection made between bones, ossicles, or other hard structures in the body which link an animal's skeletal system into a functional whole.Saladin, Ken. Anatomy & Physiology. 7th ed. McGraw- ...
s of the body, such as the
knee joint
In humans and other primates, the knee joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two joints: one between the femur and tibia (tibiofemoral joint), and one between the femur and patella (patellofemoral joint). It is the largest joint in the ...
,
wrist joint
and the
atlanto-axial joint. In a fashion similar to the cords in a toy
Jacob's ladder, the crossed ligaments stabilize the joint while allowing a very large range of motion.
Knee
Structure

Cruciate ligaments occur in the
knee
In humans and other primates, the knee joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two joints: one between the femur and tibia (tibiofemoral joint), and one between the femur and patella (patellofemoral joint). It is the largest joint in the hu ...
of humans and other bipedal animals and the corresponding
stifle of quadrupedal animals, and in the
neck
The neck is the part of the body in many vertebrates that connects the head to the torso. It supports the weight of the head and protects the nerves that transmit sensory and motor information between the brain and the rest of the body. Addition ...
, fingers, and foot.
* The cruciate ligaments of the knee are the
anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the
posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). These ligaments are two strong, rounded bands that extend from the head of the tibia to the intercondyloid notch of the femur. The ACL is lateral and the PCL is medial. They cross each other like the limbs of an X. They are named for their insertion into the tibia: the ACL attaches to the anterior aspect of the
intercondylar area, the PCL to the posterior aspect. The ACL and PCL remain distinct throughout and each has its own partial synovial sheath. Relative to the femur, the ACL keeps the tibia from slipping forward and the PCL keeps the tibia from slipping backward.
* Another structure of this type in human anatomy is the
cruciate ligament of the dens of the atlas vertebra, also called "cruciform ligament of the atlas", a ligament in the neck forming part of the
atlanto-axial joint.
* In the fingers, the
deep and
superficial flexor tendons pass through a fibro-osseous tunnel system – the flexor mechanism – of annular and cruciate ligaments called pulleys. The cruciate pulleys tether the long flexor tendons. The number and extent of these cruciate and annular ligaments varies among individuals, but three cruciate and four or five annular ligaments are normally found in each finger (usually referred to as, for example, "A1 pulley" and "C1 pulley"). The thumb has a similar system for its
long flexor tendon but with a single oblique pulley replacing the cruciate pulleys found in the fingers.
* The human foot has a
cruciate crural ligament, also known as
inferior extensor retinaculum of foot. The equine foot has a pair of
cruciate distal sesamoidean ligaments in the
metacarpophalangeal joint. These ligaments can be seen using
computed tomography
A computed tomography scan (CT scan), formerly called computed axial tomography scan (CAT scan), is a medical imaging technique used to obtain detailed internal images of the body. The personnel that perform CT scans are called radiographers or ...
.
Clinical significance
Rupture
Rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament is one of the "most frequent acquired diseases of the
stifle joint"
[ in humans, dogs, and cats; direct trauma to the joint is relatively uncommon and age appears to be a major factor.][Neãas A., J . Zatloukal, H. Kecová, M. Dvofiák]
Predisposition of Dog Breeds to Rupture of Cranial Cruciate Ligament
. ''Acta Vet. Brno'' 2000, 69: 305-310.
Cruciate ligament injuries are common in animals, and in 2005 a study estimated that $1.32 billion was spent in the United States in treating the cranial cruciate ligament of dogs.[Wilke VL. (2005)]
Estimate of the annual economic impact of treatment of cranial cruciate ligament injury in dogs in the United States
''Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association''.
Rupture in canines and surgical repair techniques
* In animals the two cruciate ligaments that cross the inside of the knee joint are referred to as the cranial cruciate (equivalent to anterior in humans) and the caudal cruciate (equivalent to the posterior in humans). The cranial cruciate ligament prevents the tibia from slipping forward out from under the femur.[Brooks, Wendy C]
Ruptured Anterior (Cranial) Cruciate Ligament
“Veterinary Information Network, Inc.” 2005
*Stifle injuries are one of the most common causes of lameness in rear limbs in dogs, and cruciate ligament injuries are the most common lesion in the stifle joint. A rupture of the cruciate ligament usually involves a rear leg to suddenly become so sore that the dog can barely bear weight on it.[
*How a rupture can occur:
**There are several ways a dog can tear or rupture the cruciate ligament. Young athletic dogs can be seen with this rupture if they take a bad step while playing too rough and injure their knee. Older dogs, especially if overweight, can have weakened ligaments that can be stretched or torn by simply stepping down off the bed or jumping.][
**Large overweight dogs are at more risk for ruptures of the cruciate ligament. In these instances it is common to see a rupture in the other leg within a year's time of the first rupture.][
*Common breeds that are seen with cruciate ligament ruptures:
**In recent survey's some of the large breed dogs that seem to be at risk for obtaining these ruptures were: Neapolitan mastiff, Newfoundland, St. Bernard, Rottweiler, Chesapeake Bay retriever, Akita, and American Staffordshire terrier.][ However, other breeds have been observed with these ruptures, such as: Labradors, Labrador crossbreeds, Poodles, Poodle crossbreeds, Bichon Frises, German Shepherds, Shepherd crossbreeds, and Golden Retrievers.][Harasen, Gre]
Canine cranial cruciate ligament rupture in profile
“The Canadian Veterinary Journal” 2003, 44(10): 845-846
*Diagnosis:
**History, palpation, observation and proper radiography is important in properly assessing the patient. The key in diagnosing a rupture of the cruciate ligament is the demonstration of an abnormal gait in the dog. Abnormal knee motion is typically observed and diagnosis of a rupture can be made by performing the drawer sign test.[Harasen, Gre]
Diagnosing rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament
“The Canadian Veterinary Journal” 2002, 43(6): 475-476
**The drawer sign:
***The examiner stands behind the dog and places a thumb on the caudal aspect of the femoral condylar region with the index finger on the patella. The other thumb is placed on the head of the fibula with the index finger on the tibial crest. The ability to move the tibia forward (cranially) with respect to a fixed femur is a positive cranial drawer sign indicative of a rupture (it will look like a drawer being opened).[
**Another method used to diagnose a rupture is the tibial compression test, in which a veterinarian will stabilize the femur with one hand and flex the ankle with the other hand. The tibia will move abnormally forward if a rupture is present.][
**For proper diagnosis sedation is typically needed since most animals tend to be tense or frightened at the vet's office. If the animal tenses its muscles, temporary stabilization of the knee can be observed which would prevent demonstration of the drawer sign or tibial compression test.][
**Radiographs are typically necessary to identify whether bone chips, from where the ligament attaches to the tibia, are present. This can occur when the cruciate ligament tears, and if found will require surgical repair.][
*Surgical repair
**Three surgical techniques are commonly used
***Extracapsular repair
****Any bone spurs are removed and a large suture is passed around the fabella behind the knee through a drilled hole in the front of the tibia. This surgical procedure tightens the joint to prevent the drawer motion, and the suture that is put in place takes the job of the cruciate ligament for approximately 2 to 12 months after surgery. The suture will eventually break and the dog will have its own healed tissue that will hold the knee in place.][Tong, Ki]
Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL)- Extracapsular Repair
“Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center” 2015
***Tibial plateau leveling osteotomy
****This surgery uses biomechanics of the knee joint and is meant to address the lack of success seen in the extracapsular repair surgery in larger dogs. A stainless steel bone plate is used to hold the two pieces of bone in place. This surgery is complex and typically costs more than the extracapsular repair.[Tong, Ki]
Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL)- Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO)
“Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center” 2015
***Tibial tuberosity advancement
****This surgery aims at advancing the tibial tuberosity forward in order to modify the pull of the quadriceps muscle group, which in turn helps reduce tibial thrust and ultimately stabilizes the knee. The tibial tuberosity is separated and anchored to its new position by a titanium or steel cage, “fork”, and plate. Bone graft is used to stimulate bone healing.[Tong, Ki]
Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL)- Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA)
“Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center” 2015
Other locations
* Cruciate ligament of atlas
*Cruciform ligaments of fingers.
Etymology
In the first edition[His, W. (1895). ''Die anatomische Nomenclatur. Nomina Anatomica. Der von der Anatomischen Gesellschaft auf ihrer IX. Versammlung in Basel angenommenen Namen''. Leipzig: Verlag Veit & Comp.] of the official Latin nomenclature ('' Nomina Anatomica'', renamed in 1998 as '' Terminologia Anatomica''), the Latin expression ''ligamenta cruciata'' was used, similar to the expression ''cruciate ligaments'' currently in use in English.[Anderson, D.M. (2000). ''Dorland’s illustrated medical dictionary'' (29th edition). Philadelphia/London/Toronto/Montreal/Sydney/Tokyo: W.B. Saunders Company.] In classical Latin
Classical Latin is the form of Literary Latin recognized as a Literary language, literary standard language, standard by writers of the late Roman Republic and early Roman Empire. It formed parallel to Vulgar Latin around 75 BC out of Old Latin ...
the verb ''cruciare'' is derived from ''crux'', meaning ''cross''.[Lewis, C.T. & Short, C. (1879). ''A Latin dictionary founded on Andrews' edition of Freund's Latin dictionary.'' Oxford: Clarendon Press.] It became considered that cruciate was equivalent to ''cross-shaped''.
References
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Ligaments