Neural anatomy of the human anterior cruciate ligament.
The histology of the anterior cruciate ligament was studied by a modified technique of the Gairns gold chloride stain for neural elements. Three morphological types of mechanoreceptors and free nerve-endings were identified: two of the slow-adapting Ruffini type and the third, a rapidly adapting Pacinian corpuscle. Rapidly adapting receptors signal motion and slow-adapting receptors subserve speed and acceleration. Free nerve-endings, which are responsible for pain, were also identified within the ligament. These neural elements comprise 1 per cent of the area of the anterior cruciate ligament.
D001369:Axons / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007719:Knee Joint; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000294:innervation*; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009411:Nerve Endings / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010141:Pacinian Corpuscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000033:anatomy & histology*