Knee joint: Intracapsular ligaments and menisci (posterior view) (English)

Right knee, capsule removed. The cruciate ligaments of the knee extend between the intercondylar fossa of the femur and intercondylar areas of the tibia, crossing each other to form an ‘X’ shape (cross: Latin = crux). The posterior cruciate ligament is the shorter, thicker and stronger of the pair. They function to stabilize the knee joint by resisting translation of the femur on the tibia and preventing hyperflexion/hyperextension.