Ligaments of the Knee

Question 1

Fibrous capsule of the knee

Answer 1

from the margins of the femoral condyles to the margins of the tibial condyles

Question 2

Tibial (medial) collateral attachments

Answer 2

from the medial epicondyle of the femur to the medial condyle & shaft of the tibia deep to the sartorius and deep to the pes anserinus.

Question 3

Tibial (medial) collateral function

Answer 3

stabilizes the medial aspect of the joint- resists valgus force at the tibiofemoral joint

-secondary restraint to IR of the tibia on the femur

-consists of superficial and deep layers/fibers

-closely applied to the joint capsule and medial meniscus

-very close to the pes anserine tendons and the adductor tendons

-there are deeper arms of the MCL: from femur to meniscus, and then meniscus to tibia

Question 4

Fibular (lateral) collateral attachments

Answer 4

from the lateral epicondyle of the femur to the head of the fibula

Question 5

Fibular (lateral) collateral function

Answer 5

stabilizes the lateral aspect of the joint

resists varus force at the tibiofemoral joint

secondary restraint to ER of the tibia on the femur

Question 6

Anterior cruciate (L. crux, cross) attachments

Answer 6

** the ACL is lateral to the PCL

from the medial part of the anterior intercondylar area of the tibia to the posterior part of the medial surface of the lateral condyle of the femur

Question 7

Anterior cruciate (L. crux, cross) function

Answer 7

prevents anterior displacement of the tibia on the femur

prevents posterior displacement of the femur on the tibia

controls rotational forces between the tibia and the femur

Question 8

Posterior cruciate ligament attachments

Answer 8

from the posterior intercondylar area of the tibia to the lateral surface of the medial condyle of the femur

Question 9

Posterior cruciate ligament function

Answer 9

prevents the anterior displacement of the femur on the tibia/prevents posterior displacement of tibia on the femur

Question 10

Medial meniscus attachments

Answer 10

anterior & posterior regions of the intercondylar area of the tibia & fibrous capsule at the tibial collateral ligament

** focus on attachment to MCL

• larger C shape

Question 11

Patellar ligament attachments

Answer 11

• from the apex of the patella to the tibial tuberosity

Question 12

Patellar ligament function

Answer 12

resists knee flexion, serves as component of extensor mechanism for quadriceps mm. to extend the tibia on the femur

Question 13

Medial Patellofemoral ligament attachments and function

Answer 13

ATTACHMENTS:
proximal 50% of the medial patella to the medial epicondyle of the femur

FUNCTION:
retrains against patellar lateral displacement

Question 14

Crural interosseous membrane attachments

Answer 14

from interosseous border of the tibia to the interosseous border of the fibula

Question 15

Are most ligaments of the knee intracapsular or extracapsular?

Answer 15

intracapsular

Question 16

Anterolateral ligament (ALL) attachments and function

Answer 16

attachments:
-lateral femoral epicondyle to the pox tibia (posterior to Gerdy’s tubercle–> attachment of the ITB)

function:
-stabilizer for internal rotation
-** support the function of the ACL

Question 17

lateral meniscus attachments

Answer 17

anterior & posterior regions of the intercondylar area of tibia

*Smaller, O shape