Knee Joint
Introduction
General
- Knee Joint is a synovial hinge type joint
- Primarily allows flexion and extension (small degree of medial/lateral rotation)
- Formed by the articulation of the patella, femur, tibia
Muscles
Extension
- Quadriceps Femoris
- Initiated by
Flexion
- Hamstrings
- Flexion initiated by
Lateral Rotation
Medial Rotation
Bones
Joints
- Tibiofemoral Joint
- The medial and lateral condyles of the femur articulate with the tibial condyles
- This is the weight bearing component of the knee joint
- Patellofemoral Joint
- Anterior aspect of the distal femur articulates with the patella
- Allows quadriceps tendon to be inserted directly over the knee, increasing efficiency
Ligaments
Extracapsular
- Patellar Tendon
- Technically a ligament, generally referred to as a tendon
- Continuation of the quadriceps femoris tendon distal to the patella
- Medial Collateral Ligament
- Wide and flat ligament on the medial side of the joint
- Proximally attached to medial epicondyle of femur, distally to medial condyle of tibia
- Lateral Collateral Ligament
- Thinner ligament that the MCL
- Proximally attaches to the lateral epicondyle of the femur, distally on the lateral surface of the fibular head
- Medial and lateral patellar retinacula
- Oblique popliteal ligament
- Arcuate popliteal ligament
- Anterolateral Ligament
- Medial Patellofemoral Ligament
- Lateral Patellofemoral Ligament
Intracapsular
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament
- Attaches to the anterior intercondylar region of the tibia, posteriorly into the intercondylar fossa of the femur
- Prevents anterior dislocation of the tibia on the femur
- Posterior Cruciate Ligament
- Attaches to the posterior intercondylar region of the tibia, anteromedial femoral condyle
- Prevents posterior dislocation of the tibia onto the femur
- Menisci
- Medial and lateral meniscus are C-shaped fibrocartilage rings located within the joint
- Deepens the articular surface of the tibia, increasing the stability of the joint
- Acts as shock absorbers
- Ligaments supporting the meniscus
- Transverse ligament
- Meniscofemoral ligaments
- Meniscotibial (coronary) ligaments
- Patellomeniscal ligament
Other Ligaments
- Ligamentum mucosum
- Popliteofibular ligament
- Fabellofibular ligament
Nerves
- Hiltons Law: supplied by the nerves of the muscles which cross the joint
- Femoral Nerve
- Tibial Nerve
- Common Fibular Nerve
- Posterior division of Obturator Nerve
Vascular Supply
- Genicular branches of
- Femoral artery
- Popliteal artery
- Lateral Circumflex femoral artery
- Anterior Tibial Artery
- Posterior Tibial Artery
Other Anatomic Structures
Bursae
- Suprapatellar bursa: located between the quadriceps femoris, femur.
- Prepatellar bursa: located between the apex of the patella, skin
- Infrapatellar bursa: split into deep and superficial
- Deep Infrapatellar Bursa lies between the tibia, patella ligament
- Superficial Infrapatellar Bursa lies between the patella ligament, skin
- Semimembranosus Bursa: located posterior to the knee joint
- Between the semimembranosus, medial head of the gastrocnemius
Ossicles
Movement
- Extension: produced by the quadriceps femoris, which inserts into the tibial tuberosity.
- Flexion: hamstrings, gracilis, sartorius, popliteus
- Lateral rotation: biceps femoris.
- Medial rotation: semimembranosus, semitendinosus, gracilis, sartorius and popliteus
Clinical Significance
See Also
References
- ↑ Almoallim, Hani, et al. "Approach to Musculoskeletal Examination." Skills in Rheumatology (2021): 17-65.
- ↑ Parekh, Jesal N. Using Finite Element Methods to Study Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries: Understanding the Role of ACL Modulus and Tibial Surface Geometry on ACL Loading. Diss. 2013.
- ↑ Bayoğlu, Riza. A physiologically accurate mechanical representation of a retrograde nail-bone construct under walking load. MS thesis. Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü.
- ↑ Dean, Drew W. Meniscal tissue bonding and exploration of sonochemical tissue modification. Diss. 2009.