Session 9 - Knee Joint

Question 1

What type of joint is the knee joint?

Answer 1

hinge type synovial joint

Question 2

What movements does the knee joint allow?

Answer 2

Flexion and extension and small amount of medial + lateral rotation

Question 3

In overview, what articulations form the knee joint?

Answer 3

The patella, femur and tibia

Question 4

What does it rely on to ensure its stability?

Answer 4

Muscles and ligaments

Question 5

In specific, what two articulations form the knee joint?

Answer 5

Tibiofemoral and patellofemoral

Question 6

What is the tibofemoral joint formed from?

Answer 6

Medial and lateral condyles of femur articulating with the tibia

Question 7

What is the patellofemoral joint formed from?

Answer 7

Anterior, distal portion of the femur articulating with the patella

Question 8

What is the function of the tibiofemoral joint?

Answer 8

Weightbearing joint of the knee

Question 9

What is the function of the patellofemoral joint?

Answer 9

Alows the tendon of the quadriceps femoris (main extensor of the knee) to be inserted directly over the knee, increasing the effiency of the muscle.

Question 10

What are the joint surfaces of the patello and tibio femoral joints lined with?

Answer 10

Hyaline cartilage, enclosed within a single joint vavity

Question 11

What is formed within the tendon of the quadriceps femoris and why?

Answer 11

The patella is formed inside the tendon of the quadriceps femoris; its presence minimises wear and tear on the tendon.

Question 12

What are the menisci of the knee joint?

Answer 12

The medial and lateral menisci are fibrocartilage structures

Question 13

What is the function of the menisci of the knee joint? (2)

Answer 13

To deepen the articular surface of the tibia, thus increasing stability of the joint.
To act as shock absorpers

Question 14

Where do the menisci of the knee attach?

Answer 14

Intercondylar area of the tibia

Question 15

Give two additional places the medial meniscus is attached to, and why this is significant

Answer 15

the tibial collateral ligament and the joint capsule.Any damage to the tibial collateral ligament results in tearing of the medial meniscus.

Question 16

What are the bursae found in the knee joint?

Answer 16

Suprapatella bursa
Prepatella bursa
Infrapatella bursa

Question 17

What is the purpose of the bursa?

Answer 17

Reduce wear and tear on the moving structures of the joint

Question 18

What are the three major categories of ligament in the knee joint?

Answer 18

Patellar ligament
Collateral ligaments
Cruciate ligaments

Question 19

What is the patellar ligament?

Answer 19

a continuation of the quadriceps femoris tendon distal to the patella.

Question 20

Name the two collateral ligaments

What is there purpose?

Answer 20

Tibial (medial) collateral ligament
Fibular (lateral) collateral ligament

stablise the hinge-like motion of the knee, preventing any medial or lateral movement

Question 21

Describe tibial collateral ligament

Answer 21

a wide and 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 medal surface of the tibia.

Question 22

Describe fibular collateral ligament

Answer 22

thinner and rounder than the tibial collateral, this attaches proximally to the lateral epicondyle of the femur, distally it attaches to a depression on the lateral surface of the fibular head

Question 23

Name the cruciate ligaments

Answer 23

Anterior cruciate ligament

Posterior cruciate ligament

Question 24

What do the cruciate ligaments connect, and how does this give them there name?

Answer 24

hese two ligament connect the femur and the tibia. In doing so, they cross each other, hence the term ‘cruciate’

Question 25

Describe the anterior cruciate ligament

Answer 25

attaches at the anterior intercondylar region of the tibia and ascends posteriorly to attach to the femur, in the intercondylar fossa. It prevents anterior dislocation of the tibia onto the femur

Question 26

Describe the posterior cruciate ligament

Answer 26

attaches at the posterior intercondylar region of the tibia, and ascends anteriorly to attach to the femur in the intercondylar fossa. It prevents posterior dislocation of the tibia onto the femur

Question 27

What are the four movements of the knee joint?

Answer 27

Extension
Flexion
Lateral rotation
Medial rotation

Question 28

What is special about lateral and medial rotation in the knee joint?

Answer 28

Can only occur when the knee is flexed (if the knee is not flexed, the medial/lateral rotation occurs at the hip joint):

Question 29

What causes extensions of the knee joint?

Answer 29

contraction of the quadriceps muscle, which inserts into the tibial tuberosity

Question 30

What causes flexion of the knee joint?

Answer 30

Contraction of many muscles, including hamstrings (see here), gracilis, sartorius and popliteus

Question 31

What causes lateral rotation of the knee joint?

Answer 31

contraction of the biceps femoris

Question 32

What causes medial rotation of knee joint?

Answer 32

semimembranosus, semitendinosus, gracilis sartorius, popliteus

Question 33

PAMs APpLes

Answer 33

Posterior cruciate passes anterior and inserts medically

Anterior passes posterior and inserts laterally

Question 34

How does the knee lock?

Answer 34

In the last 30*s extension, femur rotates medially in order to lock.. Rotates laterally in order to unlcok.