knee anatomy and biomechanics Flashcards
what joints make up the knee joint?
Patella-femoral joint
Tibiofemoral joint
Superior tibio-fibular joint
why is the knee joint susceptible to trauma
stuck in the center of two lever arms
what provides inert stability to the knee?
ligament
meniscuc
articular surfaces
what provides dynamic stability to the knee joint?
muscles
what forms the normal Q angle of the knee
line from asis to center of the patella and from center of patella to tibial tibercle
what is associated w/ an increase in Q angle of the knee
increased lateral translation and thus increase stress on the side of PF joint
what attaches the patella to tibial tuberosity
patellar tendon
what is the function of the PF joint
pulley for the quad muscles and allows to decrease the friction b/w the quad tendon and the femoral condyles
what happens at the PF joint as the knee begins to flex
patella moves inferiorly and engage in the intercondylar groove
shifts medially by being pushed by the large lat femoral condule and tibial MR
what happens at the PF joint as the knee past 30 degree flexion
patella will either remain stable or shift laterally
at 0 degree of knee flexion (knee extension) where does contact of the patella occur?
no contract b/w patella and torchlear groove
at 10-30 degrees of knee flexion where does contact of the patella occur?
inferior pole of patella and trochlear groove
45-60 degrees of knee flexion where does contact of the patella occur?
contact area moves towards the central pole of the patella
at 90 degrees of knee flexion where does contact of the patella occur?
the top of the patella is in contact w/ the patellar groove
at 135 degrees of knee flexion where does contact of the patella occur?
medial and lateral sides of the trochlea now serve as contact points
how is the congruency of the knee joint?
incongruent due to the different shape of the articulating surfaces; patellar surface is smaller than femoral articulating surface
what act as dynamic stabilizers for the patella
quad tendon
patellar tendon
ITB
rectus femoris muscle
what acts as static stabilizers of the patella
medial and lateral patellar retinaculum
what may influence the position of the patella
imbalances in passive tension or change ion the line of pull of the dynamic stabilizers
what determines the vertical position of the patella in the femoral sulcus?
lenght of the patellar tendon
what is patella alta
condition that arises when the patellar tendon is abnormally long; leading for a higher raised patella on the femoral sulcus
what are consequences associated to patella alta?
subluxation and PFPS
what is the normal and abnormal raio for modified insall-salvatti ratio and what does it measure?
Ratio patella tendon length: patella length
Normal ratio = 1.25 : 1
Abnormal ratio = >2: 1
what does the joint reaction force on the knee depend on?
quad force and knee angle
what happens to the patella and joint rxn force when the knee is in increased flexion?
patella gets pulled up by the quad tendon and inferiorly by the patellar tendon leading to posterior compression
when is the compression force on the patella minimal?
w/ knee extension
when is compression force on the patella worse?
in 90 degree flexion and w/ quad contractions