Knee Joint

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What kind of joint is the knee?
- Synovial: filled with fluid and surrounded by a capsule
- Modified hinge joint: moves in one direction (extension and flexion) but also glides and rotates
What does the strength of the knee joint come from?
- Depends on surrounding muscles and ligaments from femur to tibia
- Quadriceps femoris muscle is the largest supporting muscle
Patellar retinacula
- Thick connective tissue on either side of the patella
- Vastus medialis and lateralis
What 5 ligaments aid in supporting the joint and are they extracapsular or intracapsular?
- Patellar ligament- extracapsular i.e outside of the capsule
- Medial collateral ligament- extra
- Lateral collateral ligament- extra
- Anterior cruciate ligament- intracapsular i.e inside the fluid
Patellar ligament
- Connects the patella to the tibial tuberosity
- Strengthens joint anteriorly
Medial (tibial) collateral ligament
- Broad band and flat connecting the medial epicondyle of the femur to the medial condyle of the tibia (femur to tibia)
- Directly connected to the medial meniscus
- Strengthens medially
Lateral (fibular) collateral ligament
- Narrow "cord-like" band (looks like semitendinosus) connecting the lateral epicondyle of the femur to the head of the fibula
- Separated from the lateral meniscus by the tendon of the popliteus m
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
- Attaches the lateral condyle of the femur to the anterior intercondylar area of the tibia
- Prevents the tibia from moving forward
Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL)
- Attaches the medial condyle of the femur to the posterior intercondylar area of the tibia
- Prevents the tibia from moving backwards
- Can only see from the back
Medial and Lateral Meniscus
- Semi-circular fibrocartilage structures that function as shock-absorbers for the knee
- Named for the location
What separates the lateral meniscus from the lateral collateral ligament?

Tendon of the popliteus m.
What shapes are the medial and lateral meniscus?

Medial is more c shaped and lateral is more circular
Unhappy triad
- Injury to the:
- Anterior cruciate ligament
- Medial collateral ligamnet
- Medial meniscus
- --If you tear the MCL you also tear the medial meniscus
- Happens when you are tackled with a fixed foot
When does the ACL rupture?

From hyperextension
When does PCL rupture?

Landing on tibial tuberosity with flexed knee

Author

Zaqxz

340483

Card Set

Knee Joint

Description

akldf

Updated

2018-05-29T14:34:54Z

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