Lower limb: anterior cruciate ligament: practice question

A Anatomy question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Anatomy · Lower limb: anterior cruciate ligament

Sample item

A footballer pivots sharply and feels a pop in the knee. Within hours the knee is swollen with a haemarthrosis. On the Lachman test the tibia translates excessively forward on the femur with a soft end-point. Which ligament is torn, and where does it attach on the femur?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Anterior cruciate ligament, attached to the medial surface of the lateral femoral condyle

The anterior cruciate ligament runs from the anterior intercondylar area of the tibia upwards, backwards and laterally to the medial surface of the lateral femoral condyle. It prevents anterior translation of the tibia on the femur, so the Lachman and anterior drawer tests are positive when it is torn. Its blood supply comes from the middle genicular artery, which explains the early haemarthrosis.

Option by option

  • A. Anterior cruciate ligament, attached to the medial surface of the lateral femoral condyle (correct)

    The anterior cruciate ligament resists forward tibial translation and attaches to the medial surface of the lateral femoral condyle.

  • B. Medial collateral ligament, attached to the medial femoral epicondyle

    The medial collateral ligament resists valgus stress, and its tear gives medial joint line laxity on valgus testing.

  • C. Posterior cruciate ligament, attached to the lateral surface of the medial femoral condyle

    The posterior cruciate ligament resists posterior tibial translation, and its tear gives a posterior sag and positive posterior drawer.

  • D. Lateral collateral ligament, attached to the lateral femoral epicondyle

    The lateral collateral ligament resists varus stress, and its tear gives lateral laxity on varus testing.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is A, Anterior cruciate ligament, attached to the medial surface of the lateral femoral condyle. The anterior cruciate ligament runs from the anterior intercondylar area of the tibia upwards, backwards and laterally to the medial surface of the lateral femoral condyle.

Why is "Medial collateral ligament, attached to the medial femoral epicondyle" not the answer?

The medial collateral ligament resists valgus stress, and its tear gives medial joint line laxity on valgus testing.

Why is "Posterior cruciate ligament, attached to the lateral surface of the m…" not the answer?

The posterior cruciate ligament resists posterior tibial translation, and its tear gives a posterior sag and positive posterior drawer.

Why is "Lateral collateral ligament, attached to the lateral femoral epicondy…" not the answer?

The lateral collateral ligament resists varus stress, and its tear gives lateral laxity on varus testing.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Lower limb: anterior cruciate ligament in Anatomy. It prevents anterior translation of the tibia on the femur, so the Lachman and anterior drawer tests are positive when it is torn. Its blood supply comes from the middle genicular artery, which explains the early haemarthrosis.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Lower limb: anterior cruciate ligament?

Learn every nerve by its route, its muscles and what a lesion looks like at the bedside. That one habit answers a large share of questions. Then use the flashcards and the other Anatomy questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.