Knee Joint Capsule
Description
Name
- Joint Capsule of the Knee
- Articular capsule of the knee joint
- Fibrous Capsule of the Knee
- Articular Capsule of the Knee
General
- Wide and lax joint capsule of the knee
- Contains patella, ligaments, menisci and bursae
- Consists of an inner synovial membrane and outer fibrous membrane separated by fatty deposits anteriorly/posteriorly
- Relatively thin anteriorly and posterior, thickened laterally by the collateral ligaments
Gross Anatomy
- A composite structure formed by muscle tendons and their expansions
- This creates a ligamentous sheath around the joint
- Relatively weak, attached to the margins of the femoral and tibial articular surface
- Anterior portion attaches to the borders of the patella
- Posterolateral gap exists to give passage to the tendon of the popliteus muscle
- Outer fibrous layer continuous with adjacent tendons
- Inner synovial membrane lubricates the articular surfaces, reducing friction, providing nourishment to cartilage
Boundaries
- Femoral aspect
- Proximal femoral condyles, intercondylar fossa posteriorly
- Patellar retinaculum anteriorly
- Articular margin of the femur medially
- Femur just proximal to the groove for the popliteus tendon laterally
- No capsule proximal to the patella, allowing the suprapatellar recess to communicate with the joint
- Tibial aspect
- Tibial condyles posteriorly/medially
- Patellar retinaculum, tibial tuberosity anteriorly
- Head of the fibula laterally
- Aperture for the popliteus tendon at the lateral tibial condyle
- Deep aspect
- Thickening of capsule continuous with medial collateral ligament
- Weakly attaches to menisci via the coronary ligaments
Bursa of the capsule
Clinical Significance
- Needs to be updated