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knee
Function:
- hinge type of synovial joint allowing flexion & extension
- connects the femur with the tibia
- supports the entire weight of the body in stride, thus is vulnerable to acute injury & osteoarthritis
- relatively weak mechanically because of the configuration of its articular surfaces
- stability depends on:
a) strength & actions of the surrounding muscles & their tendons (mainly quadriceps femoris & the fibers of vastus medialis & vastus lateralis)
b) ligaments that connect the femur & tibia
Structure:
- ligaments attaching the femur to the tibia
- patellar ligament
- fibular collateral ligament
- tibial collateral ligament
- oblique popliteal ligament
- arcuate popliteal ligament
- the patella, a sesamoid bone covering the anterior surface of the knee, connects the quadriceps tendon with the anterior tibia via the patellar ligament.
Notes:
- [Latin, genu = knee; junctura = to join]
Related
buckling or giving way of the knee
knee injury, traumatic
knee pain
locking of the knee
General
synovial joint (diarthrosis)
lower extremity structure
References
- Stedman's Medical Dictionary 27th ed, Williams &
Wilkins, Baltimore, 1999.
- Clinically Oriented Anatomy, 4th edition, KL Moore &
AF Dalley (eds), Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia,
PA 1999.
Component-of
lower extremity; lower limb; leg
Components
anterior cruciate ligament; ligamentum cruciatum anterius (ACL)
fibular collateral ligament (lateral collateral ligament)
lateral meniscus (meniscus lateralis)
medial meniscus (meniscus medialis, faliciform cartilage)
patella (kneecap)
pes anserinus (L. goose's foot)
popliteal fossa
posterior cruciate ligament (PCL, ligamentum cruciatum posterius)
posterior meniscofemoral ligament
tibial collateral ligament (medial collateral ligament)
tibial plateaus (medial & lateral)
Images
images related to knee