title: Innervation of the canine cruciate ligaments. A neurohistological study.
abstract: A search for mechanoreceptors within the substance of the cruciate ligaments was undertaken using the modified gold-chloride technique. Abundant Pacinian, Vater-Pacini, Ruffini end organs and Ruffini-type receptors were found within the substance of the anterior and posterior cruciates. The receptors were innervated by axons of 5 to 10 micrometers in diameter penetrating from the synovium investing the ligaments. The findings support the contention that the cruciate ligaments have important mechanoreceptive and proprioceptive functions.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering Institute, Ecole Polytechnique/Faculty of Medicine, Campus de l'Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Yahia
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: St-Georges
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000294:innervation*; D004285:Dogs / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D010141:Pacinian Corpuscles; D016119:Posterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000294:innervation*; D013823:Thermoreceptors