Where Is the MCL in My Knee?

The MCL is located behind the ACL and is less visible.

The MCL, or medial collateral ligament, is one of four major ligaments of the knee. Unlike muscles, the MCL has a poor blood supply and is made up of strong, connective tissues. It has a limited range of motion and does not heal very fast.

Anatomy

The MCL is a broad and flat ligament located behind your knee joint. It is attached from the medial condyle of your thigh bone, or the inner notch at the end of the bone, to the medial condyle of the tibia, or the inner part at the end of the lower leg bone.

Function

The MCL prevents the knee joint from moving toward the middle of your body. It keeps your hip joints, knees, and ankles in alignment when standing, walking, running, and other movement patterns.

Injury

According to Sports Injury Clinic, injury to the MCL occurs when the knee is impacted from the outside while the knee is bent. The force is so great that it tears the MCL partially or entirely. This kind of force is common in many sports, such as football, rugby, mixed martial arts and soccer.

References

• "Principles of Human Anatomy"; Gerald Tortora; 2004
• Sports Injury Clinic: Medial Ligament Sprain