Knee Flashcards
What are the 2 joints of the knee?
- Tibiofemoral joint
- Patellafemoral joint
What are the 3 most common types of knee injuries seen clinically?
- Unspecified sprains, strains or overuse injuries
- Contusions
- Meniscal or ligamentous injuries
Which knee joint is the largest joint in the body?
the tibiofemoral joint
The tibiofemoral joint has _ degrees of freedom, what are they?
3:
Flexion/Extension
Internal Rotation/External Rotation
Abduction/Adduction
The lateral condyle serves as the origin of what 3 structures?
- Popliteus
- Lateral head of the gastrocnemius
- Lateral collateral ligament (LCL)
The medial condyle serves as the origin of what 3 structures?
- Adductor magnus
- Medial head of the gastrocnemius
- Medial collateral ligament (MCL)
Tibial plateaus are con___ in the mediolateral direction
concave
The medial tibial plateau is con___ in the A/P direction
concave
The lateral tibial plateau is con___ in the A/P direction
convex
Does the medial or lateral tibial plateau have a larger surface area? How much larger is it?
The medial plateau has a surface area that is approximately 50% greater than that of the lateral plateau
Medial plateau’s articular surface is __ times thicker than the lateral plateau’s
3
The presence of what accentuates the concavity of the tibial plateaus?
the menisci
What is the resting position of the tibiofemoral joint?
25 degrees of flexion
What is the closed-packed position of the tibiofemoral joint?
Full Extension and External Rotation of the Tibia
What is the capsular pattern for the tibiofemoral joint?
Flexion > Extension
What type of joint is the patellofemoral joint?
Modified plane joint
The patella has _ facets. What are they?
5: Odd Superior Inferior Medial Lateral
Which patellar facet is most frequently affected with chondromalacia patella?
the odd facet
What are the 5 functions of the patellofemoral joint?
- Provide the articulation with low friction
- Protect the distal aspect of the femur from trauma and the quadriceps from attritional wear
- Improve the cosmetic appearance of the knee
- Improve the moment arm (distance between the center of gravity and the center of rotation) of the quadriceps
- Decrease the amount of A/P tibiofemoral shear stress placed on the joint
Describe the positioning of the knee joint capsule in reference to the patella. What does it form?
The capsule ascends superiorly/anteriorly above the patella to form the suprapatellar pouch
What lines the inner portion of the knee joint capsule?
synovial membrane
What does the synovial membrane exclude from the interior portion of the knee joint?
the cruciate ligaments
The cruciate ligaments are ___-synovial and ___-articular
extrasynovial and intra-articular
What type of the joint is the proximal tibiofemoral joint?
Plane synovial joint between the Tibia and the Fibular Head
Which aspects of the proximal tibiofibular joint are convex and which are concave?
There is a slight convexity on the oval tibial facet and a slight concavity of the fibular head
In what direction does the tibial facet at the proximal tibiofemoral joint face?
laterally, posteriorly, and inferiorly
Does the proximal or distal tibiofemoral joint have more motion?
proximal
What are the 2 glides that can occur at the proximal tibiofemoral joint?
- Superoinferior direction
- Anteroposterior direction
The ACL is the primary restraint for which motions?
Anterior translation and medial rotation of the tibia on the femur
The PCL is the primary restraint for which motions?
Posterior translation and medial rotation of the tibia on the femur
Both the ACL and PCL are the secondary restraints for which motions?
Valgus and varus rotation of the tibia
The MCL is the primary restraint for which motions?
Valgus and lateral rotation of the tibia
The LCL is the primary restraint for which motions?
Varus and lateral rotation of the tibia
Both the MCL and LCL are the secondary restraints for which motions?
anterior and posterior translation of the tibia on the femur
The ACL and PCL contain mechanoreceptors, so if there is disruption of these ligaments what happens?
There can be an interruption or elimination of sensory nerve fibers in the joint
The ACL’s ability to adjust to internal stress influences what 3 things?
- laxity of the joint
- stresses of the joint
- kinematics of the joint
Which knee ligament is the strongest?
the PCL
It is twice as strong as the ACL, MCL, and LCL
Forcing the ACL more than _% beyond its resting length may result in rupture.
5
The PCL provides __-__% of the total restraint to posterior translation of the tibia on the femur
90 - 95%
Are the MCL and LCL extra- or intra-articular ligaments
extra-articular ligaments
Describe the structure of the MCL
It develops as a thickening of the medial joint capsule and is subdivided into a superficial band and a deep band
Describe the superficial band of the MCL
It is a thick, flat band that has a fan-like attachment proximally on the medial femoral condyle and blends with the posteromedial corner of the capsule
Describe the deep band of the MCL
It is a continuation of the capsule that blends with the Medial Meniscus
Which part of which ligament is the first to be injured when a valgus stress is applied
Superficial band of the MCL
Where does the LCL originate and insert at?
It arises from the lateral femoral condyle and runs distally and posteriorly to insert onto the head of the fibula
Does the LCL blend with the lateral meniscus?
No it develops independently, and remains completely free from the joint capsule and the lateral meniscus