Glossary For Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears
Edited by Guy Slowik MD FRCS. Last updated on October 10th 2011
Here are definitions of medical terms related to anterior cruciate ligament tears.
Allograft: Tissue obtained from a donor to be used in another person.
Autograft: Tissue taken from one place in the body to be used in another place in the same body.
Arthroscope: A narrow telescope-like instrument to which a tiny camera is attached. It is inserted into the joint through small incisions, allowing the inside of the joint to be clearly seen.
Cartilage: The smooth tissue that lines the bone ends inside a joint.
EKG: an electrocardiogram, a simple test that measures the electrical impulses produced by the heart.
Femur: The upper leg bone. It is the largest and strongest bone. It is also referred to as the thighbone.
Isokinetic: this refers to a muscle contraction in which the maximum tension is generated in the muscle as it contracts at a constant speed over the full range of motion of the joint.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): painless method of diagnosis using powerful magnets and computers to give detailed images of the inside of the body.
Meniscus: A soft padding that acts as a cushion or "shock absorber" between the ends of bones in some joints.
Patella: The kneecap. A flat triangular bone located at the front of the knee joint.
Tibia: The larger of the two bones of the lower (between the knee and ankle). Also referred to as the shin bone.
Retinaculum: A band or band like structure aiding in holding an organ or other structure in place.
