Abstract：Objective: To research the functional anatomic change of the posterior cruciate ligament(PCL) in vivo. Methods: A total 40 knees from 30 healthy subjects, with mean age of 23 years, were studied to measure the change of the length and the deviation, and the elevation of PCL, and to observe the architecture of PCL on oblique coronal and sagital images at different flexion of the knees(0°, 30°, 60°, 90°, 120°) with MRI 3-dimensional multi-echo data imaging combination(3D-MEDIC) sequence. Results: The PCL elongated from 0° flexion to 90° flexion and shortened up to 120° flexion. The deviation of PCL decreasea from 0° flexion to 90° flexion but increased up to 120° flexion. The elevation of PCL was the smallest at 30° flexion and the largest at 120° flexion. Conclusion: It is feasible to make 3D-MEDIC of MRI to study the functional anatomy of PCL in vivo.
2010, Vol. 21 
