HOW SCREW HOME MECHANISM LOCKS KNEE IN EXTENSION

Anterior view of Left Knee

During the last 15-20 degrees of knee
extension with the foot free, the tibia
rotates externally and locks into
extension. When the knee extends with
the foot planted, the femur internally rotates and
locks into extension. This locking is called the screw home mechanism.
HOW POPLITEUS MUSCLE UNLOCKS THE KNEE
Illustration to Left: Posterior view of Left Knee showing
popliteus muscle origin at lateral femoral epicondyle
(deep to lateral collateral ligament) and insertion at the
posterior medial tibia.

Illustration below: Lateral view of Left Knee
Showing LCL & Popliteus.


Action of popliteus:
Flexion Knee (very minimal)
ER Femur (foot fixed)
IR Tibia (foot free)
The popliteus muscle unlocks the knee by either externally rotating
the femur (if the foot is planted) or internally rotating the tibia (if the
foot is free)
Summary of Screw Home Mechanism of Locking the Knee
and Popliteus Muscle action to Unlock the Knee

The screw home mechanism is the process by which the knee is locked into
extension by rotating the tibia externally (if the foot is freeas if kicking a ball) or
by internally rotating the femur (if the foot is fixed/plantedas if moving from
sitting to standing). Remember, the knee joint is a modified hinge joint because it
allows for some rotation. In order to unlock the knee from extension to move
into a flexed position, the popliteus muscle is needed. When the popliteus
muscle contracts during knee flexion, it unlocks the knee by internally rotating
the tibia (when the foot is free) or externally rotating the femur (when the foot is
fixed/planted). The illustrations above help show the screw home mechanism by
which the knee joint is locked into extension and also how the popliteus unlocks
the knee from an extended position to allow the knee to flex.

Link to video illustrating the rotation of the knee joint during extension
http://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A0S00MycTGNRfTQA1j77w8QF;_
ylu=X3oDMTBvZ3AycDJsBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDdmlkBHZ0aWQDVjEzMA--
?p=the+screw+home+mechanism&vid=c6715e2a9cc40b2f897e06d487c8a709&l=
1%3A13&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts4.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DV.457269375526
5479%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%
3D2Zqx09oQqQY&tit=the+screw+home+mechanism&c=0&sigr=11aae69le&age=0
&&tt=b

Another Good Video showing locking and unlocking
http://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A0S00MhLTWNRK2sAp2H7w8QF;
_ylu=X3oDMTBvZ3AycDJsBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDdmlkBHZ0aWQDVjEzMA--
?p=the+screw+home+mechanism&vid=0b2e7f12d26422307a6e02ace89d6282&l
=2%3A05&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts4.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DV.47403048020
21855%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv
%3DCCAZnu489jM&tit=OT+440+Kinesiology%3A+Lower+extremity+knee+locking
+mechanism&c=4&sigr=11a7kdcog&age=0&&tt=b