Anatomy of the Knee Flashcards
What is the popliteal fossa?
- diamond-shaped conduit behind the knee joint
- formed by muscles posteriorly
- major route for structures able to travel between thigh and leg
Label the components that make up the border of the popliteal fossa using the labels below:
Superomedial – Semimembranosus (semitendinosus)
Superolateral – Biceps femoris
Inferomedial – medial head Gastrocnemius
Inferolateral – lateral head Gastrocnemius
Floor – Popliteus muscle
Roof – Popliteal fascia
1 = Superomedial – Semimembranosus 2 = Inferomedial – medial head Gastrocnemius 3 = Floor – Popliteus muscle 4 = Superolateral – Biceps femoris 5 = Inferolateral – lateral head Gastrocnemius
Roof – Popliteal fascia - NOT SHOWN
The popliteal fossa is a conduit allowing neurovascular structures to pass between the thigh and leg. What is contained within the popliteal fossa using the mnemonic NAV moving medially to laterally?
1 - popliteal artery, popliteal vein, tibial and common fibular nerve
2 - popliteal vein and artery, tibial and sciatic nerve
3 - femoral vein and artery, tibial and common fibular nerve
4 - popliteal vein and artery, sciatic and common fibular nerve
1 - popliteal artery, popliteal vein, tibial and common fibular nerve
- deepest to superficial is the above order backwards
Which large nerve branches into the 2 nerves contained within the popliteal fossa, the tibial and common fibular nerve?
1 - femoral nerve
2 - obturator nerve
3 - sciatic nerve
4 - lateral cutaneous nerve
3 - sciatic nerve
The popliteal artery passes through the popliteal fossa inferiorly and then bifurcates into the tibial artery. What 2 branches does the tibial artery then bifurcate into?
1 - posterior fibula and anterior fibula artery
2 - posterior tibial and deep tibial artery
3 - deep tibial and superficial tibial artery
4 - posterior tibial and anterior tibial artery
4 - posterior tibial and anterior tibial artery
The popliteal artery passes through the popliteal fossa inferiorly. As its passing through the popliteal artery it lets off other branches that are able to supply blood to all the structures of the knee. What are these arteries called and what are they called collectively?
1 - geniculate artery with 1
2 - geniculate arteries with 5
3 - tibial artery with 4
4 - fibula artery with 2
- 2 - geniculate arteries with 5
The popliteal artery passes through the popliteal fossa inferiorly. As its passing through the popliteal artery it lets off other branches that are able to supply blood to all the structures of the knee. These arteries are called the geniculate arteries and there are 5 of them. Label them in the image below using the labels provided:
- medial superior genicular artery
- lateral superior genicular artery
- lateral inferior genicular artery
- middle genicular artery
- medial superior genicular artery
1 = lateral superior genicular artery 2 = medial superior genicular artery 3 = middle genicular artery 4 = lateral inferior genicular artery 5 = medial inferior genicular artery
Which pulse can be taken at the popliteal fossa as part of the peripheral vascular examination?
- popliteal pulse
The popliteal vein passes through the popliteal fossa inferiorly and then bifurcates into what 2 key veins?
1 - deep and superficial saphenous veins
2 - deep and superficial gastrocnemius veins
3 - deep and superficial tibial veins
4 -deep and superficial perforating veins
1 - deep and superficial saphenous veins
The adductor magnus possess a small opening between the adductor and hamstring regions of this muscle. This opening allows 2 key vessels to pass through and enter the popliteal fossa. What is this opening called and what 2 vessels pass through?
1 - adductor hiatus and femoral artery and vein
2 - abductor hiatus and popliteal artery and vein
3 - adductor hiatus and popliteal artery and vein
4 - external hiatus and popliteal artery and vein
3 - adductor hiatus and popliteal artery and vein
What is a bakers cyst?
- fluid filled swelling that develops behind the knee
- often develops over the popliteal fossa
The popliteal fossa has its own cutaneous nerve supply which covers the skin of the popliteal fossa on the back of the knee. Which nerve provides this?
1 - lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (L2-L3)
2 - obturator nerve (L2-L4)
3 - medial femoral cutaneous nerve (L2-L3)
4 - posterior femoral cutaneous nerve (S1- S3)
4 - posterior femoral cutaneous nerve (S1- S3)
- important when examining the patient
Which aspects of the femur articulate with the knee joint?
1 - condyles (medial and lateral)
2 - adductor tubercles
3 - epicondyles (medial and lateral)
4 - linea aspera
1 - condyles (medial and lateral)
Is the fibula medial or lateral?
- lateral
Which aspects of the tibia articulate with the knee joint?
1 - condyles (medial and lateral)
2 - fibular and tibial heads
3 - epicondyles (medial and lateral)
4 - tibial tuberosity
1 - condyles (medial and lateral)
What type of bone is the patella?
1 - sesamoid bone
2 - long bone
3 - short bone
4 - irregular bone
1 - sesamoid bone
The patella is a sesamoid bone. What is unique about sesamoid bones?
1 - only 1 in the body
2 - help alleviate compression forces and protect tendons
3 - rough surface for tendon attachment
4 - form of bursa
2 - help alleviate compression forces and protect tendons
- normally embedded within a muscle or tendon near joint surface
There are 2 menisci of the knee joint. What are the names of these?
- medial and lateral menisci
- in the form of wedges made of type I collagen
There are 2 menisci of the knee joint, the medial and lateral menisci. What type of cartilage is this?
1 - hyaline
2 - fibrocartilage
3 - elastic cartilage
2 - fibrocartilage
We have the medial and lateral menisci that sit on the surface of the tibia. The medial menisci is more fixed than the lateral menisci. Why is this?
1 - stronger collagen
2 - fixed to bone with no other attachments
3 - fixed by tibial collateral ligament
4 - held by shape of tibial condyle
3 - fixed by tibial collateral ligament
There is a ligament that attaches the medial and lateral menisci of the knee. What is this ligament called?
1 - anterior cruciate ligament
2 - collateral ligament
3 - transverse ligament
4 - annular ligament
3 - transverse ligament
There are 2 crucial ligaments that are contained within the centre of the joint capsule of the knee. What are these 2 ligaments called?
- posterior cruciate ligament
- anterior cruciate ligament
There are 2 crucial ligaments that are contained within the centre of the joint capsule of the knee called the posterior and anterior cruciate ligament. Are these contained within the synovial joint cavity?
- no
The knee joint has a large number of ligament that stabilise the knee. There are 2 collateral ligaments that help stabilise the knee. What are they called?
- medial (tibia) collateral ligament
- lateral (fibula) collateral ligament