knee joint

Question 1

knee joint

Answer 1

• primarily a hinge type of synovial joint, allowing flexion and extension
• combined also with gliding and rolling and with rotation about a vertical axis
• two femorotibial articulations (lateral condyles and medial condyles of tibia and femur)
• one femoropetelar articulation
• stability of knee joint depends on : strength and actions of surrounding muscles and their tendons and ligaments connecting the femur and tibia

Question 2

fibular (lateral) collateral ligament

Answer 2

-extends inferiorly from the lateral epicondyle of femur to the lateral surface of the head of the fibula

Question 3

Tibial (medial) collateral ligament

Answer 3

• strong flat band that extends from the medial epicondyle of the femur to the medial condyle and superior part of the medial surface of the tibia
• deep fibres are attached to medial meniscus at midpoint

Question 4

Posterior cruciate ligament

Answer 4

-stronger of two cruciate ligaments

• starts at back more medial of tibia, inserts on anterior part of the lateral surface of medial condyle of femur
• runs superiorly and slightly laterally and crosses with ACL
• stabilizes the femur when walking downhill (when you go into extension from flexion) by grabbing front of femur and pulling back and spins
• prevents posterior displacement of tibia on femur

Question 5

anterior cruciate ligament

Answer 5

-arises from intercondylar area of tibia, extends superiorly, posteriorly and laterally to attach to the posterior part of the medial side of the lateral condyle of the femur

-prevents posterior displacement of femur on the tibia

-stabilizes knee during flexion

Question 6

transverse ligament of knee

Answer 6

runs across front of knee and joins anterior edges of the menisci

Question 7

popliteus

Answer 7

• passes between joint capsule and fibular collateral ligament, inserting on outside of femur
• causes subtle rotation of femur to unlock femur when standing to get going

Question 8

posterior ligament of fibular head

Answer 8

attaches fibula to lateral condyle of tibia

Question 9

meniscus

Answer 9

lateral meniscus : more oval shaped

medial meniscus : more C shaped

• Big cartilaginous discs with slightly different shapes thicker on outside and thinner on inside
• add thickness and depth to the femoral condyles

Question 10

genu varum

Answer 10

bow legged, lateral angle of knee joint

Question 11

genu valgum

Answer 11

medial angle of knee joint