Movement & Joints II - Knee Joint Flashcards
Anterior cruciate ligament
Location:
Knee
Description:
Fibrous band joining tibia to femur
Inside fibrous capsule
Comment:
Limits posterior excursion (sliding) of femoral condyles on tibial plateaus when knee flexed
Thinner and weaker of cruciate ligaments
Cruciate ligaments named (anterior and posterior) by point of attachment to intercondylar area of tibia
Commonly injured with lateral force to knee region (“clipping” in football)
Injury frequently also involves medial meniscus and tibial collateral ligament (“unhappy triad”)
Called cruciate because the two ligaments have a cross-like configuration
Femur
Location: Thigh Description: Long bone Characteristic features include head, neck, shaft, greater and lesser trochanters, linea aspera, and medial and lateral condyles Head forms part of hip joint Distal end forms part of knee joint Comment: Only bone of thigh Longest bone in body; length accurately predicts height of individual
Fibula
Location:
Leg (lateral)
Description:
Long, thin bone
Articulates with tibia (proximal) and talus (distal)
Characteristic features include head, neck, shaft, and lateral malleolus
Fibular collateral ligament
Location:
Knee (lateral)
Description:
Fibrous cord external to fibrous capsule of knee joint
Connects lateral femoral condyle to head of fibula
Also known as:
Lateral collateral ligament
Comment:
Limits rotation between femur and tibia
Tendon of popliteus muscle lies between fibular collateral ligament and lateral meniscus
lateral meniscus
Location:
Knee
Description:
Semicircular cartilage on lateral tibial plateau
Outer border thick and convex; inner border thin and concave
Attached to intercondylar area of tibia
Comment:
Deepens articular surface for corresponding condyle of femur
Separated from fibular collateral ligament by tendon of popliteus muscle
medial meniscus
Location:
Knee
Description:
Semicircular cartilage on medial tibial plateau
Outer border is thick and convex; inner border is thin and concave
Attached to intercondylar area of tibia
Attached to tibial collateral ligament
Comment:
Deepens articular surface for corresponding condyle of femur
Commonly injured with lateral force to knee region (“clipping” in football)
Injury frequently also involves tibial collateral and anterior cruciate ligament (“unhappy triad”)
patellar ligament
Location: Knee (anterior) Description: Connects patella to tuberosity of tibia Comment: Continuation of tendon of quadriceps femoris muscles
posterior cruciate ligament
Location:
Knee
Description:
Fibrous band connecting tibia to femur
Inside fibrous capsule
Comment:
Limits anterior excursion (sliding) of femoral condyles on tibial plateaus when knee flexed
Thicker and stronger of cruciate ligaments
Cruciate ligaments named (anterior and posterior) by point of attachment to intercondylar area of tibia
Called “cruciate” because two ligaments have a cross-like configuration
tibia
Location: Leg (medial) Description: Long bone between knee and ankle joints Characteristic features include medial and lateral condyles, medial and lateral plateaus, tuberosity, shaft, and medial malleolus Contributes to knee and ankle joints Also known as: "Shin" bone Comment: Anterior shaft is subcutaneous
tibial collateral ligament
Location:
Knee (medial)
Description:
Broad fibrous band external to fibrous capsule of knee joint
Connects medial femoral condyle to medial condyle and proximal shaft of tibia
Fused with outer margin of medial meniscus
Also known as:
Medial collateral ligament
Comment:
Commonly injured with lateral force to knee region (“clipping” in football)
Injury frequently also involves medial meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament (“unhappy triad”)
transverse ligament of knee
Location: Knee (anterior) Description: Band of fibrous tissue connecting medial and lateral menisci Blends with anterior cruciate ligament Comment: Absent in approximately 40% of knees
patella
Location:
Knee (anterior)
Within tendon of quadriceps femoris muscle
Description:
Triangular sesamoid bone
Apex of bone directed distally
Posterior surface has two articular facets for femoral condyles
Together with femur and tibia, forms knee joint
Also known as:
“Kneecap”
Comment:
Acts as fulcrum to increase angle of quadriceps femoris tendon across knee
tendon of quadriceps femoris m.
Action:
Extension of leg
Flexion of thigh at hip joint (rectus femoris only)
Origin:
Vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, vastus medialis: femur (shaft)
Rectus femoris: ilium (anterior inferior iliac spine)
Insertion:
Patella (via a common, quadriceps tendon)
Innervation:
Femoral nerve
Comment:
Comprised of four muscles: rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, and vastus medialis
Quadriceps tendon extends from patella to tibial tuberosity as patellar ligament
Rectus femoris is only muscle of quadriceps group that acts on thigh
