The ultrastructure of sensory nerve endings in human anterior cruciate ligament

Abstract

The sensory innervation of the anterior cruciate ligament (ligamentum cruciatum anterius) of the human knee joint was studied by light- and electron microscopy. The connective tissue between the synovial membrane and the cruciate ligament contains small Ruffini corpuscles and lamellar corpuscles with several inner cores. The connective tissue septa between the individual fascicles of the cruciate ligament contain Ruffini corpuscles and free nerve endings. The free nerve endings are innervated by C-fibres and myelinated A-delta fibres. The afferent axons of Ruffini corpuscles are myelinated and measure 4-6 microns in diameter, those of the lamellar corpuscles with several inner cores measure about 6 microns in diameter. It is discussed, whether these receptors of the anterior cruciate ligament may influence the muscle tone via polysynaptic reflexes.

Mechanoreceptors in the posterior cruciate ligament: Histologic study on cadaver knees

“…Most of these mechanoreceptors were observed at each bony attachment and on the surface of the studied ligaments. The same observations on the human anterior cruciate ligament have been previously reported (Zimny et al 1986, Halata andHaus 1989).…”

“…The mechanoreceptors in the anterior cruciate ligament of the human knee have been thoroughly described (Zimny et al 1986, Halata andHaus 1989). To our knowledge, there is only one histologic study on the human posterior cruciate ligament, but on arthrotic knees (Schultz et al 1984).…”

“…They were play a role in regulating the contraction of muscle located at the femoral and tibia1 attachments, and groups that are fundamental to knee stability. Although there has recently been an increased interest in knee neurology (Kennedy et al 1982, Day et al 1985, Zimny et al 1986, Halata and Haus 1989 and the role of the posterior cruciate ligament in the kinesiology of the human knee is accepted, the existence of neural elements in this ligament remains relatively unknown. The mechanoreceptors of the posterior cruciate ligament in the knee joint have been widely investigated in animals (Samuel 1952, Boyd 1954, Skoglund 1956, Freeman and Wyke 1967.…”

The Effect of Bracing on Proprioception of Knees with Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

“…31 Mechanoreceptors have been found in different regions of the ACL. 14,15,20,21,36,37 The connective tissue between the ACL and synovial membrane has small Ruffini and lamellar corpuscles, and septa between the fascicles of the ACL contain Ruffini corpuscles and free nerve endings. The presence of these mechanoreceptors combined with the fact that the ACL is strained with knee motion and muscle contraction 5 suggest that disruption of the anterior cruciate ligament compromises an important stabilizer of the knee and produces partial deafferentation of the joint.…”

The regeneration of sensory neurones in the reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament

“…Recently, it has been demonstrated histologically that there are several types of mechanoreceptor in the human ACL. [4][5][6][7][8] Neural elements comprise approximately 1% of the area. 9 These mechanoreceptors such as Pacinian corpuscles and Ruffini endings are thought to contribute to the position sense of the joint by feedback and reflex muscular activity.…”