The Knee Joint Flashcards
What type of joint is the knee joint?
Synovial hinge joint
What movements are allowed by the knee joint?
Flexion and extension
With limited medial and lateral rotation
What bones are involved in the knee joint?
Patella, femur, tibia
What is the tibiofemoral surface of the knee joint?
Medial and lateral condyles of femur articulate with tibial condyles
Weight-bearing component of knee joint
What is the patellofemoral surface of the knee joint?
Between patella and anterior aspect of distal femur
Allows tendon of quadriceps femoris to be inserted directly over knee (increases muscle efficiency)
What is the blood supply to the knee joint?
Through genicular anastomoses
Supplied by genicular branches of femoral and popliteal arteries
What is the nerve supply to the knee joint?
Femoral, tibial, common fibular nerves
What are the functions of the medial and lateral menisci in the knee?
To deepen the articular surface of the tibia to increase stability
To act as shock absorbers by increasing surface area to dissipate force
What are the medial and lateral menisci of the knee?
C shaped fibrocartilage structures attached at intercondylar area of tibia
What are the four bursae of the knee joint?
Suprapatellar bursa
Prepatella bursa
Infrapatellar bursa
Semimembranous bursa
Where is the suprapatellar bursa located?
Extension of synovial cavity of knee
Located between quadriceps femoris and femur
Where is the prepatellar bursa found?
Between the apex of the patella and the skin
Where is the infrapatellar bursae found?
Split into deep and superficial
Deep lies between tibia and patella ligament
Superficial lies between patella ligament and skin
Where is the semimembranous bursa found?
Located posteriorly in the knee joint between semimembranous muscle and medial head of gastrocnemius
What are the major ligaments in the knee joint?
Patella ligament
Collateral ligaments – tibial and fibula
Cruciate ligament – anterior and posterior
What is the patellar ligament?
Continuation of quadriceps femoris tendon distal to patella
Attaches to tibial tuberosity
What is the function of the collateral ligaments?
Strap like ligaments
Stabilise the hinge motion of the knee preventing excessive medial or lateral movement
Where is the tibial (medial) collateral ligament found?
Proximately attaches to medial epicondyle of femur
Distally attaches to medial condyle of tibia
Wide and flat ligament
Where is the fibular (lateral) collateral ligament found?
Attaches proximately to lateral epicondyle of femur
Distally attaches to depression on lateral surface of fibular head

What are the cruciate ligaments of the knee joint?
Ligaments that connect the femur and tibia by crossing over each other
Where is the anterior cruciate ligament found?
Attaches at anterior in the intercondylar region of tibia with medial meniscus
Attaches to femur in intercondylar fossa
What is the function of the anterior cruciate ligament?
Prevents anterior dislocation of the tibia onto the femur
Where is the posterior cruciate ligament found?
Attaches at posterior intercondylar region of tibia and anteromedial femoral condyle
What is the function of the posterior cruciate ligament?
Prevents posterior dislocation of the tibia onto the femur
What muscles produce extension at the knee joint?
Quadriceps femoris – which insert into the tibial tuberosity
What muscles produce flexion at the knee joint?
Hamstrings, gracilis, Sartorius and popliteus 
What muscles produce lateral rotation at the knee joint?
Biceps femoris
What muscles produces medial rotation at the knee joint?
Produced by five muscles
Semimembranosus, semitendinosus, gracilis, sartorius and popliteus
When can lateral and medial rotation occurred at the knee joint?
When it is flexed only
