Msk Knee Joint Review Flashcards
Name the 3 major bones that make up the knee
Femur, patella, tibia
What joints do we have at the knee?
- patello-femoral joint
- tibiofemoral joint
- superior tibiofibular joint
Describe the characteristics of the patella
- not a round, circular bone all around
- point at bottom = apex of patella
- round at the top = base of patella
- Back has a nice articulate surface that will meet up with anterior surface on femur
- at bottom there are 2 shallow facets with a point in between, these match up with medial and lateral femoral condyles
Name the major ligaments of the knee
- lateral collateral ligament (LCL)
- medial collateral ligament (MCL)
- anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
- posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)
Describe the LCL
- Attaches to proximal side of fibula (head) and lateral epicondyle of femur (the sticky outy thing from the lateral condyle)
Describe the MCL
- longer, around the length of middle finger and wider
- proximal attachment at medial epicondyle of femur
- distal attachment at medial side of tibia, just inferior to medial tibial condyle
INJURED A LOT! Deepest fingers integrate with more superficial ones of medial meniscus
What does cruciate mean?
To cross
Describe the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
- attaches to anterior intercondylar area
- goes up to lateral femoral condyle
- limits anterior translation relative to femur
- limits external rotation of tibia relative to femur (stretched with both rotations but more with external)
Describe the characteristics of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)
- attaches lower closer to posterior intercondylar area
- comes up from tibial attaches to medial femoral condyle
- limit excessive translation in posterior direction relative to femur (flexion of the knee)
What does the ACL limit? Aka what would be impaired if injured
- External rotation of tibia
- anterior translation relative to femur
Describe the varus position and the effect it has on the knee. What limits this motion? What might get injured then if we have too much of it
Position at knee that is bowlegged
- open up lateral side of knee and compress medial side
- LCL limits varus positions and stress on knee
Describe the valgus position and the effect it would have on the knee, as well as the structure that limits this movement
“I’m shy” position
- opens medial side of the knee
- MCL limits this position
- separates medial tibial condyle from medial femoral condyle and compresses on lateral side
What allows for the passage of the ACL and PCL?
Intercondylar notch
What are articulate surfaces as is connects to the knee?
- where bones meet each other, joint contact
- has hyaline or articulate cartilage
- femur has to connect patella and fibula
Ex. Condyle as are very rounded and convex so when knee flexion/extension happens, condyle will rock back along tibial plateau
What happens to the patella with flexion and extension?
- slides down with flexion, up with extension because of it’s attachment to tibial tuberosity through the tendon