Knee Joint

actually 2 joints within the

articular capsule
tibio-femoral
patello-femoral
the superior fibulo-tibial joint
is also near

modified hinge joint

flexion and extension is
primary motion
some rotation is possible
when the knee is flexed

epicondyles
condyles

patella

intercondylar
notch
Anterior

tibial plateaus
tibial tuberosity
Posterior

Transverse

Anterior

Ligamentous Support
Menisci

Cruciate
Ligaments

Collateral
Ligaments

Other
Ligaments

Menisci

The menisci are discs of fibrocartilage attached to tibial

plateaus. They are thicker along the periphery.

The lateral meniscus

is smaller and more
mobile than the
medial meniscus. The
inner portion of the
menisci are avascular.
The outer portion has
some blood supply,
making healing of
tears possible.

lateral

medial

Menisci Function
increases stability by deepening
tibial plateaus
decreases friction by 20%
increases contact area by 70%
absorbs shock
removal of menisci does NOT
preclude normal motion, but
increase wear on articulating surfaces
increase chance of developing
degenerative joint disease

Collateral
Ligaments
lateral (fibular)
medial (tibial)

Collateral
Ligaments

prevents abduction and

adduction movement
of the knee

Additional
Ligamentous
Support

iliotibial band
thick, strong band of
tissue connecting
tensor fascia latae to
femur and tibia

Cruciate
Ligaments
cruciate -- cross
ligaments form an X
or cross within the joint
named for their TIBIAL
attachments
Anterior Cruciate (ACL)

Posterior Crucuate (PCL)

shorter and stronger than
ACL

The ACL prevents the

femur from sliding
posteriorly on the tibia
or the tibia from sliding
anteriorly on the femur.

F
E
M
U
R
PATELLA

The PCL prevents the

femur from sliding
anteriorly on the tibia or
the tibia from sliding
posteriorly on the femur.

T
I
B
I
A

The PCL prevents the tibia from sliding

posteriorly on the femur.

Posterior

Anterior

Cruciates During Flexion/Extension

Note: the cruciate
ligaments also
limit rotation

Patello-femoral Joint
articulation of the
patella and femur
the patella is a true
sesamoid bone
posterior surface of the
patella is covered with
thick hyaline cartilage
the patella slides
within the trochlear
groove

Functions of Patello-femoral Joint

with patella

(1) increases angle of pull of quads on

tibia, improves the ratio of
motive:resistive torque by 50%
(2) centralizes divergent tension of quads
into a single line of action
(3) some protection of anterior aspect of
knee

without patella

Q-Angle
The Q-angle is the angle formed
by a line from the anterior
superior spine of the ilium to
the middle of the patella and a
line from the middle of the
patella to the tibial tuberosity.
Males typically have Q-angles
between 10 to 14o, females
between 15-17o.

Atypical Q-angles
bowleggedness

knock-knees

Knee Rotation
(Locking Your Knee)
Extension

Six to 30 degrees of internal

rotation of the tibia on the
femur occurs through 90
degrees of knee flexion.

Flexion

External
Rotation
Internal
Rotation

1 The femoral condyles do not have the same diameters, this helps
cause internal rotation when the knee is flexed and external rotation
when the knee is extended.
2 The lateral condyle slides more than medial condyle.
3 The anterior cruciate ligament becomes taut just prior to the rotation,
this may help force a rotation of the femur on the tibia.

Knee Musculature
many 2 joint muscles
primary movements
- flexion and extension
- hams & quads,
respectively
medial and lateral
rotation possible
necessary for screwhome mechanism

Knee Flexion
Hamstrings
cross hip and knee
biceps femoris
semitendinosus
semimembranosus
gastrocnemius
cross knee and ankle

popliteus

Knee Extension - Quadriceps

rectus femoris
vastus lateralis
vastus medialis
vastus intermedius
quadriceps tendon
patellar ligament

Lateral Rotation
biceps femoris
attaches to lateral aspect of knee

Medial Rotation
semitendinosus
semimembranosus

popliteus
attach to medial aspect of knee

Common Knee Injuries

one of the most commonly injured joints
lack of bony and muscular support
positioned between the 2 longest bones
weight bearing and locomotion functions

often tear or stretching of soft tissue

Ligament Injuries
ACL
more prevalent than PCL injuries
forces directed from posterior side of leg

PCL
forces directed from anterior side of leg
forced flexion of knee w/external rotation
wrestling and football

Ruptured ACL Knee

Intact Knee with ACL

& PCL

Mechanisms of ACL injury

1) attempting a rapid cutting maneuver
with foot in contact with the ground and
knee flexed (problem exacerbated if an
external force applied to knee during
this movement)
2) knee hyperextension with internal
tibial rotation
Example
backward falling skier - boot
and skis accelerate forward creating an
anterior drawer mechanism

Gender issues related to ACL injuries

females more likely to sustain an ACL injury than males
soccer - 2.6X
basketball - 5.75X
wider pelvis
greater flexibility
less-developed musculature
hypoplastic vastus medialis obliquus
narrow femoral notch
genu valgum
external tibial torsion

PCL Injuries
When the knee is forcefully twisted or hyperextended BUT other
ligaments are usually injured or torn, before the posterior
cruciate ligament (PCL) is torn
Most common mechanism for PCL alone to be injured is from a
direct blow to the front of the knee while the knee is bent.
Automobile accident
1. Automobile strikes another and stops suddenly
2. Front passenger or driver slides forward.
3. Bent knee hits the dashboard just below the knee cap forcing
tibia backwards on the femur tearing PCL.
The same force can occur during a fall on the bent knee, where the
force of the fall on the tibia pushes it back against the femur
and tears the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL).

Common mechanism of
PCL injury in football is
being tackled while the
knee is fully extended.

When the tibia is

displaced too much in the
posterior direction the
PCL may rupture.

Ligament Injuries

injuries to MCL more prevalent

than LCL
MCL
foot planted and force applied to the
lateral side of knee
football

Meniscus Injuries
most common injury in the knee
tearing is most common
medial side injured more often
medial meniscus more secured
foot planted with excessive rotation

Iliotibial Band
Syndrome
IT-band
thick strong band of
ligamentous tissue
connects tensor fascia latae to
the lateral condyle of the
femur and the lateral
tuberosity of the tibia

IT-band rubs against the

lateral femoral condyle when
there is excessive tension

 excessive pronation increases internal rotation of the

tibia, which accentuates the friction of the IT band and
femoral condyle

tibial alignment and size of femoral condyle may also

contribute to the development of this condition