TY - JOUR
TI - Mechanoreceptors of the posterior cruciate ligament
AU - Katonis, P.
AU - Papoutsidakis, A.
AU - Aligizakis, A.
AU - Tzanakakis, G.
AU - and Kontakis, G. M.
AU - Papagelopoulos, P. J.
JO - Journal of International Medical Research
PY - 2008
VL - 36
TODO - 3
SP - 387-393
PB - SAGE Publications Ltd
SN - 0300-0605, 1473-2300
TODO - 10.1177/147323000803600302
TODO - posterior cruciate ligaments; knee; mechanoreceptors
TODO - The mechanical role of the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments in
the passive and functional stability of the knee joint has been well
documented. Both these knee joint ligaments contain Ruffini, Pacinian,
Golgi and free nerve endings with different capabilities of providing
the central nervous system with information regarding movement and
position as well as chemical events. The posterior cruciate ligament
provides 95% of the restraining force to a posterior tibial
displacement, is significantly stronger than the other knee ligaments,
and sensory nerve endings are located in the tibia and femoral bone
insertions. This report aims to review the anatomy and physiology of the
various mechanoreceptors of the posterior cruciate ligament, placing
special emphasis on their role in knee joint stability. It concludes
that the posterior crude ligament may not only serve as a ‘mechanical
stabilizer’ of the knee joint, but also probably has an important
‘sensory function’ that should be taken into account when dealing with
injuries to it.
ER -