Glossary

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.