3D FSE cube and VIPR-aTR 3.0 tesla magnetic resonance imaging predicts canine cranial cruciate ligament structural properties

•We performed ex-vivo 3D 3.0 Tesla MRI and mechanical testing of the canine stifle.•Data were collected using isotropic high resolution sequences.•Cranial cruciate ligament yield load and load to failure were correlated with ligament volume determined by MRI.•Cranial cruciate ligament structural properties were not related to MRI median grayscale value.•3D MRI may be useful for monitoring cranial cruciate ligament structural properties in clinical studies.