MCL is the short form of Medial Collateral Ligament which is very much needed for maintaining stability of knee joint. This ligament along with three other ligaments (namely Anterior Cruciate Ligament ACL, Posterior Cruciate Ligament PCL, and Lateral Collateral Ligament LCL) is responsible for effective joint function. A ligament can be defined as group of fiber like substance which controls the excess of motion of joints, thus preventing wear and tear.
MCL ligament is broad and thick band of fibers present throughout the knee joint ranging from end of thigh bone (femur) till top of shin bone (tibia) and is present inside the joint. They are responsible for preventing the widening of joint movement thus preventing opening up of knee joint. Its function is to restrict the movement of the person to over-extend his legs inward and maintaining the stability of the knee joint.
Whenever the knee joint is attacked due to injury or fall, it is the MCL which suffers maximum damage and tear. When external force is applied it moves the knee ligament inside to open widely and in this process, the MCL gets stretched too far thus subjected to injury and tear. Depending on the intensity of injury it can affect other ligaments like ACL and PCL.
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