Quantitative analysis of human cruciate ligament insertions

The objective of this study was to provide quantitative data on the inserti on sites of the cruciate ligaments. In the first part of the study, we dete rmined 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 a rea of the ACL and PCL midsubstance of 5 human knees was measured using a l aser micrometer system. The insertion sites of each Ligament were then digi tized and the 2-dimensional insertion site areas were determined. Relative to the ligament midsubstance, the PCL tibial and femoral insertions were ap proximately 3 times larger, whereas those of the ACL were over 3.5 times la rger. In the second part of the study, the ACLs and PCLs of 10 knees were e ach divided into their 2 components and the areas of each insertion were de termined. Each component was approximately 50% of the total ligament insert ion area and no significant difference between the 2 could be shown.