Knee Joint Flashcards
Describe the vessels of the knee;
Vascular supply of the knee comes from branches of the femoral, lateral femoral circumflex and popliteal vessels (superiorly) anastamosing with branches of the anterior tibial and circumflex peroneal art. (inferiorly).
What is the function of the knee?
Flexion and extension.
Also has a locking mechanism to allowing standing.
What are the five ligaments asssociated with the knee?
Petallar ligmanet
Medial and alteral collateral ligaments
Anterior and posterior cruciate ligament
Describe the MCL and LCL;
MCL; Broad ligament which blends with joint capsule.
LCL; Discrete from the joint capsule.
Describe the ACL and PCL;
ACL and PCL run from intercondylar region of the tibia and to the distal femur. Stablise knee in AP plane.
Describe the ACL and its function;
ACL runs from the anterior tibial spine to the lateral condyle of the femur. Prevents ant. translation of the tibia on the femur.
Describe the PCL and its function;
PCL runs from the posterior tibial spine to the medial femoral condyle. It prevents posterior translation of the tibia on the femur.
Where are the ACL and PCL located?
Both cruciates are within the knee joint but outside the articular cavity.
Describe the structures of the knee joint capsule;
Medial collateral ligament and medial meniscus are fused with the fibrous membrane (hence injury to the medial knee can damage these structures).
LCL and lateral meniscus are not attatched to the capsule.
What are the bursae of the knee?
Suprapetallar bursae
Prepetallar bursae
Infrapetallar bursae
