Medial collateral ligament

The medial collateral ligament or MCL (or tibial collateral ligament) is one of the four major ligaments of the knee. It is on the medial or inner side of the joint.

It resists forces pushing the knee medially (towards the body), which would otherwise produce valgus deformity.

The medial collateral ligament is a broad, flat, membranous band, situated slightly posterior on the medial side of the knee joint.

It is attached proximally to the medial condyle of femur immediately below the adductor tubercle; below to the medial condyle of the tibia and medial surface of its body.

The fibers of the posterior part of the ligament are short and incline backward as they descend; they are inserted into the tibia above the groove for the semimembranosus muscle.

The anterior part of the ligament is a flattened band, about 10 centimetres long, which inclines forward as it descends.

It is inserted into the medial surface of the body of the tibia about 2.5 centimetres below the level of the condyle.

Crossing on top of the lower part of the MCL is the pes anserinus, the joined tendons of the sartorius, gracilis, and semitendinosus muscles; a bursa is interposed between the two.

The MCL's deep surface covers the inferior medial genicular vessels and nerve and the anterior portion of the tendon of the semimembranosus muscle, with which it is connected by a few fibers; it is intimately adherent to the medial meniscus.

Skiing
The most common knee structure damaged in skiing is the medial collateral ligament, although the carve turn has diminished the incidence somewhat.

American Football
MCL strains and tears are fairly common in American football. Mostly the Center and the Guards are ones who get this injury, due to the grip trend on their cleats. The number of football players who get this injury has increased in recent years. Companies are currently trying to develop better cleats that will prevent injury.