The Knee Joint

What is the knee joint?• The knee joint is made

up of the articulation of the ____________ __________________. The femur however does not come in contact with the fibula, but the fibula interacts with the tibia.

Type of Joint• The knee joint was first thought to be a

____________________because it was believed to be responsible for only flexion and extension

• However, the knee can rotate the leg medially and laterally to a small degree

• Therefore, the knee is considered also to be a ___________________________joint which is a type of synovial joint

The Knee Joint – AnteriorThe Knee Joint – Anterior

Patella

Medial (Tibial) collateral ligament

Patellar ligament

Tibial tuberosity

Tibia

Quadriceps tendon

Fibula

The Knee Joint Anterior (deep)The Knee Joint Anterior (deep)

Femur

Lateral (Fibular) collateral ligament removed

Medial (Tibial) collateral ligament removed

Lateral Meniscus

Tibial Tuberosity

Fibula

Lateral Condyle Medial Condyle

Medial Meniscus

Tibia

Posterior cruciate ligament

Anterior cruciate ligament

The Knee Joint – PosteriorThe Knee Joint – Posterior

Femur

Adductor magnus tendon

Medial head of gastrocnemius tendon

Semimembranosus tendon

Medial (Tibial) collateral ligament

Lateral (Fibular) collateral ligament

Fibular head

Lateral head of gastrocnemius tendon

Oblique popliteal ligament

Fibula

Tibia

The Knee Joint – Posterior (deep)The Knee Joint – Posterior (deep)

Anterior cruciate ligament

Popliteal tendonLateral meniscus

Lateral (Fibular) collateral ligament

Medial (Tibial) collateral ligament

Medial meniscus

Posterior cruciate

Femur

Fibula

Tibia

Posterior meniscofemoral ligament

Meniscus• The end of the femur is covered with articulating cartilage which

rests at the end of the tibia• There lie two thick fibrocartilage articular discs called the menisci

(meniscus-singular):• ________________________________________________________• They sit on the tibial condyles which are located on either side of the

intercondylar eminence

Intrinsic LigamentsThe knee joint has several ligaments which

help attach the femur and tibia togetherThe two intrinsic ligaments which cross each

other are called the _____________ligamentsThe _________ _________ (anterior cruciate ligament)

helps stop anterior movement of the tibia and the __________ (posterior cruciate ligament) helps to prevent posterior movement

Extrinsic LigamentsThe knee joint is held together medially by the medial collateral ligament (_____) _____) and laterally by the lateral collateral ligament (_____)_____)

These ligaments provide medial and lateral stability of the knee

MRI- ACL Tear

Muscle Groups