The knee joint is stabilized by four important ligaments, the anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament, and lateral collateral ligament. Each separate ligament prevents excessive motion of the knee. The anterior cruciate ligament prevents excessive anterior glide of the femur on the tibia, the posterior cruciate ligament prevents excessive anterior glide of the femur on the tibia, the medial collateral ligament prevents excessive abduction of the tibia, and the lateral collateral ligament prevents excessive adduction of the tibia.
When damaged, the knee becomes unstable in the direction that the injured ligament stabilized. There are four special tests each created to evaluate the four ligaments individually. Discover the names of these tests, the ligaments they evaluate, and how to perform them. Click on the links below to learn more.
