Knee Joint, Anterior and Lateral Leg

Question 1

What kind of joint is the knee joint?

Answer 1

Synovial, hinge joint

Question 2

How many articulations does the knee have and what are they?

Answer 2

3 articulations = 2 between femur and tibia, 1 between femur and patella

Question 3

Does the fibula take part in the knee joint?

Answer 3

No

Question 4

What are the main movements of the knee?

Answer 4

Flexion = mainly hamstrings and gastrocnemius, and tibial and common fibular nerve
Extension = mainly quadriceps and femoral nerve

Question 5

When can there be medial and lateral rotation of the knee?

Answer 5

When the knee joint is flexed to 90 degrees

Question 6

What carries out medial rotation of the knee?

Answer 6

Hamstrings and gracilis, tibial and obturator nerves

Question 7

What carries out lateral rotation of the knee?

Answer 7

Biceps femoris , tibial and common fibular nerves

Question 8

Where is the fibrous capsule of the knee?

Answer 8

Attaches round the margins of the articular cartilage and encloses the synovial cavity

Question 9

What strengthens the fibrous capsule?

Answer 9

Ligaments

Question 10

What are the ligaments which stabilise the knee joint?

Answer 10

Iliotibial tract, tibial (medial) and fibular (lateral) collateral ligaments, anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments

Question 11

What are the menisci?

Answer 11

Crescentic discs (medial and lateral) of fibrocartilage that act as shock absorbers and help stabilise the joint

Question 12

What is genu varum (bandy legs)?

Answer 12

Abnormality of knee alignment caused by loss of medial menisci

Question 13

What is genu valgam (knock knees)?

Answer 13

Abnormality of knee alignment caused by loss of lateral menisci

Question 14

Where are menisci thicker?

Answer 14

Peripherally where they are attached to the fibrous capsule

Question 15

Where is the additional attachment of the medial menisci?

Answer 15

Peripherally attached to the tibial collateral ligament (makes it more vulnerable to tearing in knee injury)

Question 16

What is an “unhappy triad” knee injury?

Answer 16

Lateral blow to knee that distracts and twists the medial aspect of the knee, and ruptures the ACL

Question 17

What anchors both menisci posteriorly and anteriorly?

Answer 17

Attachment to the tibial intercondylar area

Question 18

What are some features of the inner edges of the menisci?

Answer 18

Unattached to bone, very thin

Question 19

Where do the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments get their name?

Answer 19

According to their site of attachment to the intercondylar eminence of the tibia

Question 20

Where do both cruciate ligaments attach?

Answer 20

Between the tibia and the femur (involved in maintaining joint stability)

Question 21

Where does the anterior cruciate ligament pass?

Answer 21

Superiorly, laterally and posteriorly to attach to the lateral femoral condyle

Question 22

What does the ACL prevent?

Answer 22

Anterior displacement of the tibia on the femur and hyperextension of the knee joint

Question 23

How are the ACL and ACL tested?

Answer 23

By the anterior and posterior drawer tests respectively

Question 24

Where is the posterior cruciate ligament located?

Answer 24

Medial to ACL and passes superiorly and anteriorly to attach to the medial femoral condyle

Question 25

What does the PCL prevent?

Answer 25

Posterior displacement of the tibia on the femur and helps prevent hyperflexion of the joint

Question 26

What is the suprapatellar bursa?

Answer 26

Extension of the synovial cavity

Question 27

What is the function of the suprapatellar bursa?

Answer 27

Reduces friction on the quadriceps tendon during knee movements

Question 28

What is detected is by the massage test?

Answer 28

Abnormal fluid within the suprapatellar bursa (causes swelling visible in the lower third of the anterior thigh)

Question 29

Why is the common fibular nerve vulnerable to injury in the anterior leg?

Answer 29

Enter superficial to neck of fibula

Question 30

What does the common fibular nerve divide into in the anterior leg?

Answer 30

Superficial fibular nerve and deep fibular nerve

Question 31

What does the superficial fibular nerve supply?

Answer 31

Muscle of the lateral leg and skin/fascia of dorsum of foot

Question 32

What does the deep fibular nerve supply?

Answer 32

Muscles of anterior leg and skin of first interdigital cleft

Question 33

Where do all the muscles of the anterior leg attach proximally?

Answer 33

Tibia, fibula or interosseous membrane

Question 34

What are the distal attachments of the muscles of the anterior leg?

Answer 34

Base of 1st metatarsal and medial cuneiform = tibialis anterior
Distal phalanx of great toe = extensor hallucis longus
Middle and distal phalanges of lateral 4 toes = extensor digitorum
Base of 5th metatarsal = fibularis tertius

Question 35

What movements do the muscles of the anterior leg perform?

Answer 35

Dorsiflexion of ankle, extension of great toe and digits

Question 36

What action does tibialis anterior aid in?

Answer 36

Helps tibialis posterior (posterior leg) with inversion of foot

Question 37

What action does fibularis tertius perform alongside fibularis longus and brevis (lateral leg)?

Answer 37

Eversion of foot

Question 38

What separates the anterior and lateral compartments of the leg?

Answer 38

Anterior intermuscular septum

Question 39

What is the smallest compartment of the leg?

Answer 39

Lateral leg

Question 40

What are the two muscles of the lateral leg?

Answer 40

Fibularis longus and brevis

Question 41

Where do the muscles of the lateral leg attach proximally?

Answer 41

The fibula, before passing to the plantar surface of the bases of the 1st fibularis longus) and 5th metatarsals (fibularis brevis)

Question 42

Where does the distal tendon of the fibularis longus pass?

Answer 42

Beneath the sole of the foot to reach the base of the 1st metatarsal

Question 43

What is the main action of fibularis longus and brevis?

Answer 43

Eversion of the foot