S4L1 - Anatomy of the knee, anterior and medial thigh and femoral triangle Flashcards
What form of joint is the knee joint?
Hinge-type synovial joint. Allows for flexion and extension with a small degree of medial and lateral rotation.
What 2 articulations form the knee joint
- Tibiofemoral - medial and lateral condyles of the femur articulate with the medial and lateral tibial condyles. The weight bearing joint of the knee.
- Patellofemoral - the patella articulates with the femur at the trochlear groove.
Both joint surfaces are lined with hyaline cartilage and enclosed within a single joint cavity.
How is the efficiency of the quadriceps femoris increased?
The patella allows the tendon of the quadriceps femoris to be inserted directly over the knee, increasing the efficiency of the muscle by using the patella as a fulcrum to increase the power of knee extension.
Describe the blood supply to the knee joint.
Blood supply is by the genicular branches of the femoral and popliteal arteries.
What is the clinical relevance of the popliteal and genicular arteries?
The popliteal artery is gradually occluded by atheroma, the genicular anastomoses can dilate to maintain the blood supply to the leg.
What nerves supply the knee joint?
Nerve supply is by the nerves that supply the muscles which cross the joint. These are femoral, tibial and common peroneal nerves.
How is the stability of the knee joint improved?
- The tibial Articular surface is deepened by the menisci
2. Joint is supported by the joint capsule, ligaments and surrounding musculature.
What are the menisci?
The medial and lateral menisci are fibrocartilaginous structures in the knee. The lateral meniscus is smaller than the medial meniscus. They are crescentric (c shaped), thicker peripherally than centrally and attach at both ends to the intercondylar area of the tibia.
Medial is attached to joint capsule, intercondylar area of tibia and medial collateral ligament so immobile.
Lateral meniscus in not attached to the lateral collateral ligament so is more mobile.
What is the function of the menisci?
- To deepen the articular surface of the tibia, increasing the stability of the joint.
- To act as shock absorbers by increasing surface area to further dissipate forces.
What is the medial menisci connected to?
It is connected to the intercondylar area of the tibia medially.
Peripherally to the medial tibial collateral ligament and joint capsule.
How are the two menisci connected?
By the transverse ligament of the knee
How is the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus stabilised?
The posterior meniscofemoral ligament helps stabilise the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus by attaching it to the medial femoral condyle.
How are the menisci stabilised?
They are loosely attached to the joint capsule and to the tibia by coronary ligaments.
Why does healing of the menisci impair with age?
As blood supply to the menisci is from the periphery, blood flow decreased with age, and the central meniscus is avascular by adulthood, leading to impaired healing after trauma.
What are the main intracapsular ligaments of the knee joint?
The cruciate ligaments which connect the femur and the tibia and cross each other. There are two cruciate ligaments; the anterior cruciate ligament and the posterior cruciate ligament.
Describe the location of the anterior cruciate ligament
Attaches proximally to the posterolateral aspect of the femoral intercondylar fossa (medial surface of the lateral condyle) and passes distally and anteromedially to attach to the anterior aspect of the intercondylar eminence of the tibia, where it is also adherent to the medial meniscus. It resists anterior translation and medial rotation of the tibia in relation to the femur.
Describe the location of the posterior cruciate ligament
Attaches proximally to the medial border and roof of the intercondylar fossa. It passes distally and posterolaterally to attach to the posterior intercondylararea of the tibia.
What is the purpose of the posterior cruciate ligament?
The posterior crucitate ligament is the main stabiliser of the weight-bearing flexed knee and prevents the femur from sliding off the anterior edge of the tibia. Also prevents posterior dislocation of the tibia on the femur.
What does the mnemonic PAMs APpLes stand for?
Posterior passes Anterior inserts Medially
Anterior passes Posterior insert Laterally.
What is the suprapatellar bursa?
The suprepatellar bursa is located at the anterior of the knee joint where there is a deficiency in the knee capsule. Here the synovial membrane extends up beneath the patella.
What strengthens the joint capsule?
Laterally = inferior fibres of the vastus lateralis
Medially = inferior fibres of vastus medialis.
Posteriorly = oblique popliteal ligament
What are the medial and lateral collateral ligaments?
Strap like ligaments that act to stabilise the hinge motion of the knee, preventing excessive medial or lateral angulation of the tibia on the femur.
Describe the location of the medial tibial collateral ligament
A wide flat ligament found on the medial side of the joint. Proximally it attaches to the medial epicondyle of the femur, distally it attaches to the medial condyle of the tibia. It is also adherent to the medial meniscus.
The medial tibial collateral ligament resists valgus (lateral) angulation of the tibia on the femur.
What does valgus mean?
Knock knee. Lateral angulation on the tibia to the femur. The medial collateral ligament prevents this.
VaLgus = Lateral
Describe the structure and location of the lateral fibular collateral ligament
Thinner and rounder than the MCL.
It attaches proximally to the lateral epicondyle of the femur, distally it attaches to a depression on the lateral surface of the fibular head.
It is reinforced by the iliotibial tract.
What is the function of the lateral collateral ligament?
Resists Varus (medial) angulation of the tibia on the femur. Stops bow legs.
What does varus mean?
Bow legged - tibia is angled medially (inwards). Medial displacement of the leg .
What damage occurs from excessive lateral displacement of the tibia?
May cause the medial collateral ligament to tear, which in turn often results in tearing of the medial meniscus.
What is a bursa?
A small sac lined by synovial membrane containing a thin layer of synovial fluid. Found in association with most major joints of the body.
What is the function of a bursa?
Provides a cushion between the bones and tendons/muscles surrounding a joint, helps reduce friction between bones and soft tissues.
How many bursae are found in the knee joint?
What are they called?
Six
1. Suprapatellar bursa - extension of the synovial cavity of the knee, located between the quadriceps femoris muscle and the femur
- Prepatellar bursa - between the anterior surface of the patella and the skin
- Subcutaneous infrapatellar bursa - between the patellar ligament and the skin (beneath the prepatellar bursa)
- Deep infrapatellar bursa - between the tibia and the patellar ligament ( behind the subcutaneous infrapatellar bursa)
- Semimembranosus bursa - posterior to the knee joint, between the semimembranosus muscle and the medial head of the gastrocnemius
- Subsartorial (pes anserinus) bursa - between the common insertion of the pes anserinus tendons and the medial tibial condyle.
What are the 4 main movements of the knee joint?
Extension
Flexion
Lateral rotation (only possible in flexed knee)
Medial rotation ( only possible with a flexed knee)
What muscles are used in extension?
Quadriceps femoris (recurs femoris, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius and vastus lateralis) which inserts into the tibial tuberosity via the patellar ligament
What muscles are used in flexion of the knee?
Hamstrings ( biceps femoris, semimembranosus, semitendinosus) and assisted by other muscles (see textbook)
What muscles are involved in lateral rotation of the leg?
Biceps femoris
What muscles are involved in medial rotation of the leg?
Semimembranosus, semitendinosus, gracilia, sartorius and popliteus.
How does the knee lock when fully extended?
Slight medial rotation of the femoral condyles on the tibial plateau, cruciate ligaments tighten. Lower limb becomes a solid column adapted for weight bearing.
How does the knee unlock from full extension?
Popliteus contracts, rotating the femur laterally on the tibial plateau so that flexion of the knee can occur.
What are the inferior fibres of the vastus medialis?
Part of the quadriceps femoris, also known as the vastus medialis obliquus. These fibres contract to resist lateral displacement of the patella out of the trochlear groove.
What helps resist lateral displacement of the patella
The deep trochlear groove, which has a more prominent lateral femoral condyle anteriorly.
The fibres of the vastus medialis obliquus, contraction of these fibres resists lateral displacement of the patella.
Why does the femur have medial angulation?
To bring the knees closer to the bodies centre of gravity, increasing the stability of the body.
What landmarks are present on the posterior of the femur?
The linea aspera is a roughened ridge of bone running down the centre of the femur (origin of the short head of biceps femoris)
Proximally, the medial border of the linea aspera becomes the pectineal line. The lateral border becomes the gluteal tuberosity ( insertion of gluteus maximus).
Distally, the linea aspera widens to form the floor of the popliteal fossa and the medial and lateral borders form the medial and lateral supracondylar lines.
Why is the medial condyle larger than the lateral?
The medial condyle bears more weight than the lateral condyle because the bodies centre of gravity passes medial to the knee joint.
What is the trochlear groove?
Also known as the patellofemoral groove, the trochlear groove is on the anterior surface of the distal femur between the condyles. It articulates with the patella to form the patellofemoral joint.
Which condyle is more prominent anteriorly and why?
The lateral condyle is more prominent anteriorly to prevent lateral displacement of the patella during patellar tracking.
What are the medial and lateral epicondyles?
Bony elevations above the non-Articular areas of the condyles.
What is the intercondylar fossa?
A depression found on the Posterior surface of the distal femur, between the two condyles. It cruciate ligaments attaches to the intercondylar fossa.
What attaches to the patella?
The quadriceps tendon attaches to the superior aspect of the patella. The patellar ligament attaches to the inferior aspect of the patella.
What are the attachment points of the patellar ligament?
Attaches to the inferior aspect of the patella sesamoid bone. Connects the apex of the patella to the tibial tuberosity.
What markings are on the posterior of the patella bone?
Two facets.
The medial facet - articulates with the medial condyle of the femur
The lateral facet - articulates with the lateral condyle of the femur
What are the main functions of the patella?
Acts as a fulcrum to the quadriceps muscle, enhancing the leverage of the quadriceps tendon can exert on the femur, increasing the mechanical efficiency of the muscle.
Protection of the anterior aspect of the knee joint from physical trauma
Reduces the frictional forces between the quadriceps and the femoral condyles during extension of the leg.
Describe the structure of the proximal tibia?
Widened proximally by the medial and lateral condyles, aiding in weight bearing.
Condyles form a flat surface, known as the tibial plateau. This tibial plateau articulates with the femoral condyles to form the knee joint .
The head of the fibula articulates with the proximal tibia to form the proximal tibiofibular joint (not part of the knee joint)
What marks the posterior border of the tibia?
A ridge called the soleal line. This is the site of origin of the soleus muscle. The soleal line extends inferomedially to blend with the medial edge of the tibia.
What attaches to the later border of the tibia?
Also known as the interosseous border of the tibia, here the interosseous membrane attaches, binding the tibia and fibula together