The stifle joint Flashcards
What is the attachment point of the cranial cruciate ligament on the tibia?
The cranial intercondyloid area
What is the attachment of the caudal cruciate ligament on the tibia?
The popliteal notch
What is the name of the groove where the long digital extensor tendon runs on the lateral proximal tibia?
The extensor groove (the anterolateral aspect of this groove in people is called the tubercle of gerdy)
The lateral and medial fabellae are located in the lateral and medial heads of origin of which muscle?
Gastrocnemius
What is the role of the femoropatellar joint?
To increase the efficiency of the extensor mechanism by increasing the moment arm of the quadriceps muscles
Is the stifle fat pad intra or extrasynovial?
Extrasynovial (between the fibrous and synovial layers of the joint capsule)
Describe the ligaments of the stifle joint
What are the structures that provide primary ligamentous support to the stifle?
Two collateral ligaments and two cruciate ligaments.
What are the two bands of the cranial cruciate ligament?
Smaller craniomedial band, and larger caudolateral.
What is the main difference between the lateral and medial collateral ligaments of the stifle?
The lateral collateral ligament is separated from lateral meniscus by the popliteal tendon and is only loosely attached with the joint capsule. The medial collateral ligament blends with the medial joint capsule and is closely associated with the meniscus.
What are the attachment points of the lateral collateral ligament of the stifle?
Lateral epicondyle of the femur to the head of the fibula.
Are the cruciate ligaments intra- or extra synovial?
Intra articular but extra synovial because they are covered in synovium
Are the menisci comprised of hyaline or fibrocartilage?
Fibrocartilage
What ligament attaches the medial meniscus to the joint capsule and medial collateral ligament?
Coronary ligament (lateral meniscus lacks this attachment).
Is the medial or lateral meniscus more firmly attached to the tibia?
Medial meniscus
Which meniscal ligament may be absent in dog?
Caudal meniscotibial ligament of the lateral meniscus
Compressive forces applied to the meniscus from the femur are converted into what?
Hoop stress (compressive forces are converted to radial forces which are resisted by the tensile forces in the circumferentially arranged collagen fibers of the menisci)
Why is the lateral meniscus less prone to damage as compared to the medial meniscus?
The attachment of the lateral meniscus to the femur (meniscofemoral ligament) and close relationship with the popliteal tendon couple the motion of the lateral meniscus to that of the femur.
Label the ligament attachment points in the following diagram.
What type of collagen is predominantly found in the menisci?
Type 1
What are the three structural layers of the mensci?
Surface layer: randomly orientated collagen fibers to create frictionless surface.
Innermost third: collagen fibers predominantly in a radial pattern to resist compression.
Outer two thirds: circumferential pattern to act in tension
What is the role of proteoglycans in the meniscal tissue?
To resist compressive loads (rate of load dependent function)
Describe the blood supply to the meniscus
Blood supply originates from a small reflection of the vascular layer of the synovium
What are the roles of the cranial cruciate ligament in relation to stifle motion?
Limits stifle hyperextension, internal rotation and tibial thrust. Also limits stifle varus (in flexion and extension) and valgus (in flexion only).