What bones are in the anatomy of the knee?
- Femur (thigh bone) – the longest bone in the body; The round knobs at the end of the bone (near the knee) are called condyles. ...
- Tibia (shin bone) – runs from the knee to the ankle. ...
- Patella (kneecap) – a semi-flat, triangular bone that is able to move as the knee bends. ...
What are the bones that form your knee joint?
There are three important bones that come together at the knee joint:
- The tibia (shin bone)
- The femur (thigh bone)
- The patella (kneecap)
What bones form the knee joints?
There are four knee bones that fit together to make two different knee joints:
- Femur: the thigh bone
- Patella: the kneecap
- Tibia: the main shin bone
- Fibula: the outer shin bone
What two bones are situated between the knee and ankle?
the inner and thicker of the two bones of the human leg between the knee and ankle; shin bone. fibula. the outer and thinner of the two bones in the leg between the knee and ankle. calcaneous. Heel bone. cuboid. located under the 4-5 metatarsals and above the calcaneus. metatarsals. bones of the foot between ankle and toes. lateral talocalcaneal.
What are the three articulations of the knee?
The knee joint has three main articular areas: the lateral and medial femorotibial articulations between the lateral and the medial condyles of the femur and tibia, as well as the intermediate femoropatellar articulation between the patella and the femur.
How many articulating bones does the knee have?
two articulationsThe knee joint is a synovial joint that connects three bones; the femur, tibia and patella. It is a complex hinge joint composed of two articulations; the tibiofemoral joint and patellofemoral joint.
What bones does the femur articulate with at the knee?
The femur or thigh bone is found in the upper leg and is the longest bone in the body. The femur articulates proximally with the acetabulum of the pelvis to form the hip joint, and distally with the tibia and patella to form the knee joint.
Which bones articulates patella?
distal femurThe patella, the largest sesamoid bone in the body, articulates only with the patellar surface of the distal femur (patellar notch). The patella rides in the tendon of the quadriceps femoris—the largest muscle of the thigh and the primary extensor of the knee.
Which two bones come together to form the knee joint?
The knee is one of the largest and most complex joints in the body. The knee joins the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia). The smaller bone that runs alongside the tibia (fibula) and the kneecap (patella) are the other bones that make the knee joint.
What holds the knee together?
The femur, tibia, and patella all fit together with the femur and tibia held together by the thick bands of tissue known as ligaments. These ligaments help to keep the knee joint together and stable. The muscles located along the front of the thigh, known as the quadriceps, help to keep the knee strong.
What articulates with the tibia and fibula?
The most superior bone is the talus. This has a relatively square-shaped, upper surface that articulates with the tibia and fibula to form the ankle joint.
What does the tibia articulate with?
Articulations. Proximally, the tibia articulates with the femur to form the tibial-femoral joint of the knee. Distally, the tibia articulates with the talus to form the talocrural joint of the ankle.
Where do the tibia and fibula articulate?
The tibia and the smaller fibula bones comprise the lower leg and articulate at the knee and ankle.
Does the tibia articulate with the patella?
The patella does not articulate with the tibia.
Which two bones attach to the patella quizlet?
The knee cap (patella) is a sesamoid bone. Posterior to the patella is the tibia and the fibula and the anterior side is connected to the femur.
What connects the patella to the tibia?
patellar tendonThe largest tendon around the knee is the patellar tendon. This tendon connects the patella (kneecap) to the tibia. This tendon covers the patella and continues up the thigh. The portion of tendon above the patella is called the quadriceps tendon since it attaches to the quadriceps muscles in the front of the thigh.
What are the 4 ligaments of the knee?
The four main ligaments in the knee connect the femur (thighbone) to the tibia (shin bone), and include the following:Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). ... Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). ... Medial collateral ligament (MCL). ... Lateral collateral ligament (LCL).
How many tendons are in the knee?
Tendons attach the knee muscles to the bone. The two patellar tendons can also be prone to overuse and the development of patellar tendonitis. Jumper's knee is common in the knee with athletics.
How many cartilages are in the knee?
There are two types of cartilage in the knee. Articular Cartilage and Meniscal Cartilage.
What are the articulating bones of the ankle?
Description. The ankle joint is a hinged synovial joint that is formed by the articulation of the talus, tibia, and fibula bones.
What is the joint between the tibia and patella?
Knee joint (Articulatio genu) The knee joint is a synovial joint that connects three bones; the femur, tibia and patella. It is a complex hinge joint composed of two articulations; the tibiofemoral joint and patellofemoral joint. The tibiofemoral joint is an articulation between the tibia and the femur, while the patellofemoral joint is an ...
How much flexion does the knee have?
When the hip is flexed, a maximum degree of flexion of 140° is achievable in the knee joint, whereas an extended hip allows for only 120°. This is due to the fact that the hamstrings are both extensors of the hip and flexors of the knee, so they lose some of their efficiency to flex the knee if the hip is extended, and vice versa. In addition, a wider range of motion in the knee joint is achieved with passive flexion of the knee, increasing it to 160°. The contact of the posterior leg (calf) with the thigh is the major limiting factor of flexion of the knee. In addition, the capsular pattern of the knee joint, in terms of most restriction, is flexion and extension to a lesser degree.
What is the tibiofemoral joint?
The tibiofemoral joint is an articulation between the lateral and medial condyles of the distal end of the femur and the tibial plateaus, both of which are covered by a thick layer of hyaline cartilage.
Which ligament splits the tendon of the biceps femoris muscle?
As it attaches to the fibular head, the ligament splits the tendon of biceps femoris muscle in two. The fibular collateral ligament is found deep to the lateral patellar retinaculum, and superficial to the tendon of popliteus muscle, which separates the ligament from the lateral meniscus.
How many arteries are involved in the formation of the genicular anastomosis?
The knee joint has a rich vascularization stemming from the genicular anastomosis formed by several arterial blood vessels. There are approximately ten arteries involved in the formation of the genicular anastomosis:
Why is my knee jumper's knee?
It is also called “jumper’s knee” because it commonly occurs in sports such as basketball or volleyball, where the players exhibit a sudden impact on the joint when landing after a jump. It is also more common in overweight individuals, as the knee is subjected to more stress.
Where are the tibial plateaus located?
The tibial plateaus are the two slightly concave superior surfaces of the condyles located at the proximal end of the tibia, and are separated by a bony protuberance known as the intercondylar eminence. The medial tibial articular surface is somewhat oval shaped along its anteroposterior length, while the lateral articular surface is more circular in shape
What is the cartilage of the knee?
Cartilage of the knee. A strong, flexible, and slippery form of cartilage, articular cartilage covers the surfaces of the bones where they articulate. Articular cartilage allows the bones to glide, allowing the joint to move freely. Articular cartilage also absorbs shock when the bones touch each other. When individuals suffer from arthritis of the ...
What muscles are involved in the knee?
Muscles of the knee. The quadriceps muscles, hamstrings, and the muscles of the lower leg play a vital role in the functionality of the knee. These muscle groups provide strength and stability to the knee joint and must remain flexible for prime optimization. If muscle groups do not receive adequate exercise, they may atrophy.
What is the bursa of the knee?
Bursa of the knee. Sandwiched between the bones and soft tissues of the knee lays sacs of bursae. Lubricated, fluid-filled sacs, bursae reduce friction within the knee and allow for free movement. Injury and overuse may cause irritation to the bursae.
What ligaments prevent the tibia from moving out of anterior and posterior alignment?
The two cruciate ligaments prevent the tibia from moving out of anterior and posterior alignment while the two collateral ligaments prevent medial and lateral movement of the knee. A large tendon also plays an important role in the knee. Originating at the quadriceps muscles and inserting at the front of the tibia, ...
What are the ligaments of the knee?
Each knee has four main ligaments connecting the femur and tibia. The four main ligaments of the knee include the anterior cruciate ligament, the posterior cruciate ligament, the medial collateral ligament, and the lateral collateral ligament. Many physicians may refer to the ligaments of the knee using their acronyms; ACL, PCL, MCL, and LCL. The two cruciate ligaments prevent the tibia from moving out of anterior and posterior alignment while the two collateral ligaments prevent medial and lateral movement of the knee. A large tendon also plays an important role in the knee. Originating at the quadriceps muscles and inserting at the front of the tibia, the patellar tendon connects the quad muscles to the tibia. This allows the knee to flex and extend.
What is the purpose of menisci?
Comparable to articular cartilage, the menisci aim to reduce shock within the knee joint. The menisci take things one step further than the articular cartilage and aid in stabilization and mobilization of the knee.
What are spurs on the knee called?
Bone spurs, or small growths on the surface of a bone, can form which creates additional friction and lead to osteoarthritis. Along with articular cartilage, the knee has thick bands of cartilage on each side between the tibia and the femur. Singularly called a meniscus, each knee has two menisci; The medial meniscus and the lateral meniscus.
What type of joint is the knee joint?
The knee joint is a hinge type synovial joint, which mainly allows for flexion and extension (and a small degree of medial and lateral rotation). It is formed by articulations between the patella, femur and tibia.
Which tendon is the patella located in?
As the patella is both formed and resides within the q uadriceps femoris tendon, it provides a fulcrum to increase power of the knee extensor and serves as a stabilising structure that reduces frictional forces placed on femoral condyles.
What is the patella ligament?
Patellar ligament – a continuation of the quadriceps femoris tendon distal to the patella. It attaches to the tibial tuberosity.
Where does the anterior cruciate ligament attach?
Anterior cruciate ligament – attaches at the anterior intercondylar region of the tibia where it blends with the medial meniscus. It ascends posteriorly to attach to the femur in the intercondylar fossa. It prevents anterior dislocation of the tibia onto the femur.
Where is the suprapatellar bursa located?
Suprapatellar bursa – an extension of the synovial cavity of the knee, located between the quadriceps femoris and the femur. Prepatellar bursa – found between the apex of the patella and the skin. Infrapatellar bursa – split into deep and superficial. The deep bursa lies between the tibia and the patella ligament.
Which condyles are associated with the tibial condyles?
Tibiofemoral – medial and lateral condyles of the femur articulate with the tibial condyles. It is the weight-bearing component of the knee joint.
What is the most common mechanism of posterior cruciate ligament damage?
The most common mechanism of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) damage is the ‘dashboard injury’. This occurs when the knee is flexed, and a large force is applied to the shins, pushing the tibia posteriorly. This is often seen in car accidents, where the knee hits the dashboard. The posterior cruciate ligament can also be torn by hyperextension of the knee joint, or by damage to the upper part of the tibial tuberosity.
How many bones are there in the knee?
There are four bones around the knee: the thigh bone (femur), the shin bone (tibia), knee cap (patella), and the fibula (see image to the left):
Which layer of the knee allows for rotational movement?
It additionally allows for a small amount of rotational movement. If you think of the knee in layers, the deepest layer is bone and ligaments, then ligaments of the joint capsule, then muscles on top. Various nerves and blood vessels supply the muscles and bones of the knee.
Why do you need to fix a patella?
For instance, if you break (or fracture) the patella, the quadriceps may not be able to effectively pull on the tibia and you may not be able to straighten your knee. This is one of the main reasons why patellar fractures often need to be fixed. The patella also protects the knee joint from trauma.
What joint is the tibia?
There are two main joints in the knee: 1) the tibiofemoral joint where the tibia meet the femur 2) the patellofemoral joint where the kneecap (or patella) meets the femur. These two joints work together to form a modified hinge joint that allows the knee to bend and straighten but also to rotate slightly from side to side.
Why does my knee swell?
The accumulation of too much synovial fluid (synovial effusion) is usually due to irritation or inflammation of structures within the joint. Bleeding into the joint (called a hemarthrosis) can also cause a joint to swell. Swelling immediately following an injury is usually from bleeding. More delayed swelling or on-and-off swelling are usually from excess synovial fluid production from an irritated knee. The best initial home therapy for swelling is R.I.C.E. therapy.
What is the largest joint in the body?
The knee joint is the largest joint in our body. It is vulnerable to injury as it bears an enormous amount of pressure while providing flexible movement. When we walk, the load on our knees is equal to 1.5 times our body weight. When climbing stairs it is equal to 3-4 times our body weight.
Why do anatomical terms describe knee pain?
Anatomical terms allow us to describe the body and body motions more precisely . Instead of a doctor simply saying that “the patient’s knee hurts”, he or she can say that “the patient’s knee hurts anterolaterally” to specify where exactly in the knee you are having pain. Identifying specific areas of pain helps to guide the next steps in treatment or work-up. Below are some anatomic terms doctors use to describe location (as applied to the knee):
What are the bones of the knee?
The bones of articulation in the knee are the femur of the thigh, the tibia and fibula of the lower leg, and the patella (or kneecap). The active knee joint is comprised of a major articulation, the femorotibial joint (1). This is the articulation of the distal end of the femur and the proximal end of the tibia.
Which joint articulates the patella?
It articulates via ligamentous attachment to the tibial tuberosity (4). At the patellofemoral joint, the posterior side of the patella glides in close proximity to the patellar surface on the distal femur. Also relevant to knee structure and integrity are the tibiofibular joints (5, 6), which hold the fibula in place alongside the tibia.
What is the knee joint?
The knee joint is a slight modification of a simple condyloid hinge joint that allows extension and flexion. Unlike other condyloid hinge joints, the knee allows for a very small amount of lateral and medial rotation. The bones of articulation in the knee are the femur of the thigh, the tibia and fibula of the lower leg, ...
What are the three bony features of the tibia?
On the tibia, there three primarily anterior bony features: the medial condyle, lateral condyle, and tibial tuberosity. These three features serve as points of attachment for tendons and ligaments.
Which joint holds the fibula in place?
Also relevant to knee structure and integrity are the tibiofibular joints (5, 6), which hold the fibula in place alongside the tibia. The distal condyles of the femur (lateral and medial) serve as the points of articulation and rotation on top of the tibial plateau.
Which joint articulates with the lateral epicondyle of the femur?
There are other articulations that aid in function and stabilization of the knee that are often not considered. The femorofibular joint (2) is where the lateral aspect of the proximal end of the tibia articulates with the lateral epicondyle of the femur by way of the lateral collateral ligament. The patella articulates by way ...
Where is the patella located?
The patella is likely the most recognized feature of the knee, and it is located just anterior to the knee joint. The superior aspect of the patella sits in a shallow groove on the anterior surface of the femur between the femoral condyles. This groove is called the patellar surface.
What are the bones that make up the knee joint?
The bones that make up the knee joint are the tibia, femur, and patella.
What is the joint that surrounds the knee?
The articular capsule of the knee joint surrounds the knee joint. The knee joint is formed by the connection of the lower part of the femur and the upper part of the tibia. The patella is a round bone that moves along the front of the knee and it is attached to the tibia by the patellar tendon.
What is the articular capsule made of?
The articular capsule is made up of two main layers, an inner layer and outer layer. The outer layer is made up of a tough, fibrous membrane. The inner layer is made up of a synovial membrane, which secretes synovial fluid. The articular capsule of the knee also contains bursae and a pad of fat behind the patella.
What are the structures that protect the knee joint?
Without proper lubrication provided by the synovial fluid, the knee joint would be very painful any time a person moved the knee. Bursae and Fat Pad. The fluid-filled bursae and fat pad of the articular capsule function to provide cushion and protection to the joint whenever the knee joint moves. These structures and tissues also provide cushion ...
What is the inner layer of the knee made of?
The inner layer is made up of a synovial membrane, which secretes, a clear, yellowish fluid called synovial fluid. The articular capsule of the knee also contains bursae, which are fluid filled sacs, and a fat pad located behind the patella. The articular capsule of the knee also contains bursae, synovial fluid, and a fat pad.
Which joint structure has specific functions?
All of these structures of the articular capsule of the joint (outer layer, inner layer, synovial fluid, bursae, fat pad) all have specific functions in the knee.
What is the function of the knee?
The knee is an amazing joint. The knee can bend, flex, and rotate which allows a person to stand up, walk their dog, play sports with friends, and sit down. The knee is able to perform all these functions due in large part to the articular capsule of the knee joint.
