Cruciate ligaments of stifle

The cruciate ligaments of the stifle are two ligaments, mainly situated in the intercondylar fossa of the femur between the two synovial sacs of the femorotibial joints:

• The cranial cruciate ligament arises in the intercondylar area of the lateral femoral condyle, extends craniodistally and inserts on the central intercondylar area of the tibia.
• The caudal cruciate ligament is attached to the intercondylar area of the medial femoral condyle, is directed caudodistally and ends on the popliteal notch of the tibia.