Knee joint

Question 1

Classify the type of joint

Answer 1

Synovial bi-condylar modified hinge, two degrees of freedom

Question 2

Briefly describe the tibial articular surface

Answer 2

Two concave tibial condyles
Medial is long and thin compared to the short and wider lateral condyle, both covered in articular cartilage. Flatter peripherally covered with semi-lunar interarticular menisci covered in articular cartilage

Question 3

Give the attachments and direction of the Cruciate Ligaments.

Answer 3

ACL: from the medial aspect of the lateral femoral condyle in the femoral notch (1) descending infero-medially (½) to the anterior aspect of the tibial plateau. (1)

PCL: From the lateral aspect of the Medial femoral condyle (1) descending postero-laterally (½) to the posterior aspect of the tibial plateau (1)

Question 4

what is O’Donoghues unhappy triad

Answer 4

valgus deformity with medial meniscus and medial collateral ligament being affected

Question 5

which nerve wraps around neck of fibular

Answer 5

the common perineal nerve also known as common fibular nerve

Question 6

Briefly describe the femoral articular surfaces

Answer 6

convex antero-posteriorly and medio-laterally
lateral condyle shorter and wider
medial condyle projects more distally
covered in articular dartilage

Question 7

classify superior tibia-fibular joint

Answer 7

synovial plane joint.
articulation is the head of fibula, tibial lateral condyle with capsule attacked around joint margins
small rotational movements during planter and dorsiflexion

Question 8

describe the menisci

Answer 8

medial is C shaped and lateral O shaped
2 horns posterior and anterior
medial is narrower and thin and less mobile so gets damaged easy

Question 9

give attachments of the menisci

Answer 9

Medial meniscus
anterior horn= intercondylar area and ACL
transverse and coronary ligaments

posterior horn= PCL and posterior horn of lateral meniscus
blends with capsule and medial collateral ligament

lateral meniscus
anterior horn= intercondylar eminence post. to ACL
transverse and coronary ligaments

posterior horn= posterior intercondylar area ant. to post horn of medial meniscus

Question 10

what is the function of the meniscus

Answer 10

enhances tibio-femoral joint stability by deepening tibial articular surface
acts as shock absorbers
conforms to changing shape of femoral condyles during knee movement
outer borders remover easy as thick and vasular
inner borders don’t recover easy as thin and avascular

Question 11

what are the attachments of the coronary ligaments

Answer 11

medial and lateral attaches to the borders of the menisci to tibial plaeaux

Question 12

what are the knee joint capsule attachments

Answer 12

posteriorly: post femoral condyles and intercondylar fossa
post tibial condyles

medially: blends with gastroc and semimem, medial articular margins femoral and tibial condyles
blends with medial collateral ligament

laterally: lateral femur above popliteal
lateral tibial condyle
fibula head

anteriorly: patella and retinaculum
capsule replaces by quadriceps tendon

Question 13

attachments of the medial and lateral collateral ligaments

Answer 13

medial (tibial) collateral ligament=
medial epicondyle of femur to medial shaft of proximal tibia, blends with knee joint, capsule and medial meniscus

lateral (fibular) collateral ligament
lateral femoral condyle to apex of the head of fibula

Question 14

what does MCL and PCL limit

Answer 14

MCL= valgus 
PCL= varus

Question 15

name the bursae present in the knee

Answer 15

suprapattelar bursa 
prepatellar bursa
superficial infrapatellar bursa
deep infra patella bursa
pes anserinus bursa
semimembranosis bursa