Locking/Unlocking Knee

Question 1

When/why is it locked

Answer 1

locked when standing to rduce amount of work needed by muscles to stay up

Question 2

Describe the locking of the knee

Answer 2

1) Ligaments tighten
2) Femoral condyles in contact with tibial plateaus (make surface larger)
3) tibia rotates laterally, femur rotates medially
4) vastus medialis locks the knee, aided by gluteus max and TFL via IT tract

Question 3

Describe the unlocking of the knee

Answer 3

1) tibia rotates medially, femur laterally

2) popliteus unlocks the knee