The anterior cruciate ligament (or ACL) is one of the four major ligaments of the knee. It connects from a posterio-lateral (back & outside) part of the femur to an anterio-medial (front & inside) part of the tibia.
Damage to the ACL frequently occurs with lateral blows to the knee (as happens with a tackle from the side in American football) and often is accompanied by injuries to the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and the medial meniscus, which is attached to the MCL; physicians are taught "...knee injuries come in ...
A partially torn ACL will usually be allowed to heal itself. A completely torn ACL will not grow back, probably because the lack of blood supply near the ACL. It must be replaced or left unattached. The ACL primarily serves to stabilize the knee in an extended position and when surrounding muscles are relaxed, so if the muscles are strong many people can function without it. However, lack of an ACL generally increases the risk of other knee injuries such as torn meniscus, and sport ...
