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Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)

Dr Frank Gaillard et al.

The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) (named according to its tibial attachment) passes from the posterior tibial plateaux antero superiroly to insert into the lateral surface of the medial femoral condyle. When the knee is in extension it makes an almost 90º turn as it passes anterosuperiorly. The anterior cruciate passes lateral to it and somewhat curves around it.

The ligament is approximately 13mm in diameter and contains two well defined fibre bundles, names anterolateral and posteromedial (according to their femoral attachment); during flexion the anterolateral band becomes tight, whereas the posterolateral bundle tightens during extension.