Knee Joint Flashcards
Which tendon passes over the knee joint?
Quadriceps tendon
What does the quadriceps tendon become?
Patellar Ligament
How many articulations occur at the knee joint?
3
Name the articulations at the knee joint
Femoropatellar (x1)
Femorotibial (x2)
What part of the Femur articulates with the Tibia
2 rounded condyles
What is the space between the two condyles of the Femur called?
The intercondyler fossa/ notch
Where does the Patella articulate with the femur
The Patellar surface
What structure covers the inner surface of the fat pads either side of the patellar ligament
The medial and lateral Alar folds
What do the Alar folds converge to make?
a single band called the Infrapatellar synovial fold (drapes over cruciate ligaments)
What is the function of the bursae within the knee joints?
allow structures to run close to bone and still move freely without friction
Where are the bursae in communication with the knee?
The synovial cavity
Name the bursae of the knee joint
- Suprapatellar bursa
- Popliteus bursa
- Gastrocnemius bursa
- Semimembranosus bursa
Less important 2: - subcutaneous prepatellar
- subcutaneous infrapatellar
what are the two types of ligaments within the knee joint?
Extracapsular and intracapsular
Name the extracapsular ligaments
Oblique popliteal; Arcuate popliteal; Lateral Collateral; Medial Collateral
Name the intracapsular ligaments
Anterior and Posterior Cruciate ligaments
What is the oblique popliteal an expansion of?
Semimembranosus tendon
What is the function of the oblique popliteal ligament?
Reinforces the posterior capsule
What is the acruate ligament a thickening of?
The capsule over the popliteus muscle
What is the function of the acruate ligament
Strengthens the posterolateral joint capsule
Where does the medial collateral ligament extend from and to?
the medial epicondyle of the femur to medial condyle and superior medial surface of the tibia
Where does the lateral collateral ligament extend from and to?
the lateral epicondyle of the femur to the lateral head of the fibula
What is the function of the collateral ligaments?
they prevent the side to side displacement of the knee
What happens to the cruciate ligaments during medial rotation of the tibia?
they wind around each other; Limited to 10 degrees
What does the posterior cruciate ligament prevent?
The femur from sliding anteriorly on the tibia, particularly when the knee is flexed
What does the anterior cruciate ligament prevent?
femur from sliding posteriorly on the tibia; preventing hyper extension
Where does the anterior cruciate ligament extend from and to?
from anterior intercondylar area of tibia to the medial side of lateral condyle of the femur
Name the two ACL bands and what they limit
Anteromedial band limits flexion; posterolateral band limits extension
Where does the posterior cruciate ligament extend from and to?
Posterior intercondylar area of the tibia to the lateral side of the medial condyle of the femur
Name the two PCL bands and what they limit
Anterolateral band limits flexion; Posteromedial band limits extension
Why is the PCL band important when the knee is flexed?
it holds all of the body weight; transfers weight from the femur to the tibia
What are menisci and what do they do?
They are wedges of fibrocartilage and they act as shock absorbers
What is the medial meniscus attached to?
firmly attached to the tibial collateral ligament
Is the lateral meniscus freely moveable?
Yes
What shape is the medial meniscus?
C-shaped
What shape is the lateral meniscus?
Circular
Describe branches that make up the Periarticular Genicular Anastomosis (blood supply of knee)
- 5 Genicular branches from Popliteal artery
- Descending genicular branch from Femoral artery
- Descending branch from lateral circumflex of Femoral artery
- Recurrent branches from anterior & Posterior Tibial arteries.
Give the name of the anastomosis that forms around the knee
Periarticular Genicular Anastomosis
