Week 5: Menisci & Knee Joint Motion Flashcards

1
Q

Describe the shape of the medial and lateral menisci when viewed from above:

A
  • Medial: Larger and more oval (C shaped) than the lateral menisci
  • Lateral: Nearly circular
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2
Q

What are the specific attachment sites of the medial meniscus?

A
  • Anterior horn: Anterior intercondylar area of tibia in front of the ACL
  • Posterior horn: Posterior intercondylar area in front of the PCL
  • Margin: To joint capsule & deeper fibers of the MCL
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3
Q

What are the specific attachment sites of the lateral meniscus?

A
  • Anterior horn: Anterior intercondylar area lateral to and behind attachment of ACL
  • Posterior horn: Posterior intercondylar area in front of the end of the medial meniscus
  • Margin: To joint capsule
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4
Q

What is the unhappy triad?

A

Trauma to the knee joint which results in injury of the medial meniscus, MCL and ACL

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5
Q

What is the role of the coronary ligaments?

A

Attaches menisci to the margins of the tibial plateau and to the knee joint capsule

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6
Q

Describe the shape of the menisci when viewed in the coronal plane:

A

Wedge shaped; thicker at their external margins and taper to thin unattached edges in the interior of the joint

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7
Q

Why are the upper surfaces of the menisci slightly concave?

A

Deepen the articular fossae for the reception of the convex femoral condyles

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8
Q

What are some of the functions of the menisci?

A
  • Distribution of loads
  • Improve congruence
  • Aid in stability of the joint/shock absorption
  • Aid in distribution of synovial fluid (joint nutrition)
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9
Q

Describe the vascular supply to the menisci and the implications of this supply to healing:

A

Outer 1/3 well vascularised, therefore tears to the inner 2/3rds do not heal well

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10
Q

Describe the gross structure and function of the transverse ligament:

A
  • Band of transverse fibres joining the anterior horns of the menisci
  • May be absent, or sometimes a second intermeniscal ligament is present at the posterior horns
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11
Q

Describe the motion of the femoral condyles relative to the tibial articular surfaces (arthrokinematics) during extension and flexion (osteokinematics) at the knee joint:

A
  • Extension:
    Femoral condyles roll anteriorly and translate posteriorly
  • Flexion:
    Femoral condyles roll posteriorly and translate anteriorly
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12
Q

Why do the menisci move slightly forward during extension of the knee joint?

A

The femoral condyles (passively) push the menisci forwards during extension and
surrounding ligaments also contribute to pulling the menisci anteriorly

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13
Q

Why do the menisci move slightly backward during flexion of the knee joint?

A

They are pulled posteriorly via attachments to muscles which contract – popliteus (lateral), semimembranosus expansion (medial)

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14
Q

What ligametn attaches the meniscus to the patella?

A

Patellomeniscal/meniscopatellar ligament

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