The ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is located inside the knee joint, connecting the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia) in the center of the knee.

Basic location

  • The ACL runs diagonally through the middle of the knee and sits between the femur and tibia.
  • It is one of the two “cruciate” ligaments (with the PCL) that cross each other in the center of the knee joint.

More precise anatomy

  • The ligament starts on the front part of the top of the tibia (the anterior intercondylar area of the tibial plateau).[()]
  • It then travels upward, backward, and outward to attach to the inner surface of the lateral femoral condyle (part of the lower end of the femur).[()]

What it does there

  • From this position in the middle of the knee, the ACL helps stop the tibia from sliding forward too far relative to the femur.
  • It also helps control rotational movements of the knee, which is why twisting injuries often damage it.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.