title: Radiological evidence for the triple bundle anterior cruciate ligament.
abstract: The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has traditionally been described as having two bundles--one anteromedial and one posterolateral. This has been challenged by studies proposing the existence of a third, intermediate, bundle with distinct functional significance, an arrangement that has been described in a number of domesticated animal species. No radiological evidence for the triple bundle ACL has previously been described. A prevalence study was carried out on 73 consecutive human knee magnetic resonance (MR) studies to determine the number of visible bundles, excluding individuals with a history of ACL injury or mucoid degeneration. A triple bundle ACL was demonstrated in 15 out of 73 human knees (20.5%, 95% confidence interval 12.9-31.2%). This is the first radiological description of the human triple bundle ACL. There was MR imaging evidence of a triple bundle ACL in approximately one fifth of human knees in this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: MacKay
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Whitehead
authors.forename: Andoni P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Toms
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: anterior cruciate ligament; knee anatomy; magnetic resonance imaging