lower extremity - organization of the thigh (including knee joint)

Question 1

what are the compartments of the thigh?

Answer 1

anterior, posterior, medial

Question 2

anterior compartment (action, innervation)

Answer 2

A: flexion at the hip (flex thigh), extension of the knee (extend leg)
I: femoral n.

Question 3

medial compartment (action, innervation)

Answer 3

A: adduction of the hip (thigh adduction)
I: obturator n.

Question 4

posterior compartment (action, innervation)

Answer 4

A: extension of the hip (extend thigh), flexion of the knee (flex leg)
I: tibal portions of sciatic nerve

Question 5

What is the knee joint? type of joint? primary action?

Answer 5

knee joint - articulation of femur (medial, lateral femoral condyles), tibia (medial, lateral femoral condyles), patella
(no role of fibula here)

hinge joint

A: flexion/extension (and minor medial/lateral rotation)

Question 6

what are menisci?

Answer 6

within the knee joint, we have lateral and medial meniscus

menisci: intra-articular structures that improve the ‘fit’ of bones; C-shaped cartilaginous structures, attached to medial and lateral condyles of the tibia

medial = firmly attached to extra-articular ligament (medial collateral)

Question 7

what ligaments are involved in the knee joint?

Answer 7

posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)
patellar ligament
anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
fibular and tibial collateral ligaments (FCL, TCL)

Question 8

posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)
(location, fxn, etc.)

Answer 8

intra-articular
prevents tibia from sliding posteriorly, hyperflexion
stronger

Question 9

patellar ligament (location, fxn, etc.)

Answer 9

anterior extra-articular
quadriceps femoris tendon and its continuation beyond patella (makes sesamoid)

Question 10

anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
(location, fxn, etc.)

Answer 10

intra-articular
prevents tibia from sliding anteriorly, hyperextension
WEAKER - more frequently injured

Question 11

fibular and tibial colateral ligaments (FCL, TCL)
(location, fxn, etc.)

Answer 11

FCL = LCL, lateral collateral
TCL = MCL, medial collateral

extra-articular
side support, prevents lateral (abduction)/medial (adduction) displacement

Question 12

how do we assess if the PCL and ACL are still intact?

Answer 12

anterior and posterior drawer sign

anterior drawer test = assess for ACL tear
to do: pull proximal tibia anterior (towards you); joint laxity indicates positive test

posterior drawer test = asses for PCL tear
to do: push proximal tibia posteriorly (away from you); joint laxity indicates positive test