A theoretical explanation for L core-shell absorption edge of electron energy loss spectrum of Al, an analysis of the electronic populations and a comparison between different partial cross sections are given. The edge was first normalized to the same atomic ionization cross section (per atom per electronvolt). The contributions for the cross section come from three respects:the first one is the electronic transitions from the core-shell to valence-shell calculated by extended Hückel band model, the second one is the final ionization state obtained by electron gas model, the third comes from the elastic backscatting of outgoing waves by the atoms that neighbor the excited atom. The agreement between the calculation result and the experimental result is good.