Knee Joint Anatomy Quiz

A tough fibrous connective tissue that surrounds the knee joint, continuous with the periosteum. It's thicker and stronger at the sides, allowing free movement in the front and back. Provides stability and contains small blood vessels and nerves.

A strong ligament that prevents the tibia from sliding forward on the femur. It also controls rotation and assists with pivoting.

A ligament that stops the tibia from sliding backwards on the femur. It also prevents hyperextension and controls rotation.

Connects the anterior horns of the medial & lateral menisci, preventing their movement.

Fibres from the joint capsule that surround the base of the medial and lateral menisci. They fix the menisci to the tibial plateau.

A strong ligament that provides medial stability to the knee. It runs from the medial epicondyle of the femur to the anteromedial tibial condyle and is attached to the medial meniscus.

A thin cord-like ligament that provides lateral stability to the knee. It runs from the lateral epicondyle of the femur to the head of the fibula, but doesn't attach to the lateral meniscus.

Connects the quadriceps tendon to the tibial tuberosity. It causes knee extension when the quadriceps muscles contract and provides anterior stability to the knee.

A joint that allows free movement. It's enclosed by a fibrous capsule and lined with a synovial membrane.

Largest joint in the human body, consisting of two joints: the tibiofemoral joint and the patellofemoral joint. It's a modified hinge joint, providing stability for movement.

A type of cartilage that covers bone ends in synovial joints. It acts as a cushion and helps distribute force.

Tough, fibrous tissue that connects bones. They help stabilize joints and prevent excessive movement.

C-shaped pads of fibrocartilage within the knee joint. They cushion the joint, absorb shock, and improve stability.

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) are crucial for knee stability, preventing excessive forward and backward movement.

The joint capsule encloses the knee joint, provides support, and helps maintain fluid balance.

A mechanism that 'locks' the knee joint in a fully extended position, providing additional stability. It involves the shape of the bones and the tension of ligaments.

The primary extensor of the knee. It's located on the front of the thigh.

This muscle group is responsible for extending the knee. They are located on the front of the thigh.

The large muscle located on the back of the thigh. It helps extend the hip and flex the knee, contributing to walking, running, and climbing.

Located on the back of the thigh, this muscle group helps flex the knee and extend the hip.

The popliteus muscle helps unlock the knee by rotating the femur. It does this to allow for flexion (bending) of the knee.

A straight knee is a stable knee. The femur rotates internally, tightening ligaments and locking the knee.

Located behind the knee, the popliteal fossa is a triangular space containing nerves, blood vessels, and lymph nodes.

This structure is located at the front of the knee and serves as a protective cap for the knee joint.

A strong band of fibers that extends from the posterior head of the fibula to the tibial intercondylar area, forming a Y shape and passing over the popliteus tendon. It provides strength to the posterior capsule of the knee joint.

A ligament that runs obliquely from the posterior head of the fibula to the tibial intercondylar area, attaching to the popliteus muscle. It provides stability to the posterior aspect of the knee joint.

The largest sesamoid bone in the body, located within the tendon of the quadriceps muscle. It sits between the femoral condyles and is held in place by the vastus medialis and lateralis muscles, and the medial and lateral patellar retinacula. It allows for smooth movement of the quadriceps tendon over the femur and increases leverage during knee extension.

The joint formed by the articulation of the patella and the femur. It's covered with hyaline cartilage on the deep side of the patella and the joint surface of the femur.

The articulation of the femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin bone). It's a hinge joint, allowing for flexion, extension, and some degree of rotation. It's complex, involving ligaments, tendons, and menisci to provide stability and smooth movement.

Strong, fibrous structures that connect bones to bones. They provide stability and limit excessive movement in the knee joint. The medial collateral ligament (MCL) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) are important for preventing side-to-side movement.

Strong, fibrous structures that connect bones to bones. They provide stability and limit excessive movement in the knee joint. These ligaments are located inside the joint capsule and are crucial for preventing anterior and posterior displacement of the tibia relative to the femur.

C-shaped pieces of fibrocartilage that act as shock absorbers and provide stability in the knee joint. There are two menisci: the medial meniscus and the lateral meniscus. They distribute forces and help prevent excessive movement.

The knee joint primarily allows for flexion and extension, but can also accommodate some medial and lateral rotation, particularly during flexion. These movements occur both in open and closed kinetic chains.

In open kinetic chain movements, the distal segment of the limb is free, while the proximal segment is fixed, for example, kicking a ball. In closed kinetic chain movements, the distal segment is fixed, and the proximal segment moves, for example, standing up from a chair.

This phase of gait involves the knee extending from flexion to full extension during the stance phase (heel strike to toe off) and flexes during the swing phase (toe off to heel strike) to prepare for the next heel strike.

A condition where the knee hyperextends beyond the normal range of motion.

A condition where the knees are turned inwards, causing the legs to appear bow-legged.

A condition where the knees are turned outwards, causing the legs to appear knock-kneed.

A condition where the patella (kneecap) is misaligned, causing it to deviate laterally during knee extension. This can lead to pain and decreased function.

A test used to identify a Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) tear. The patient lies on their back with their knees at a 90-degree angle. The examiner holds the patient's heel and pulls the tibia backwards. If the tibia moves backwards excessively, it indicates a possible PCL injury.

A test involving applying a varus (LCL) or valgus (MCL) force on the knee. The patient's knee is fully extended or at 30 degrees of flexion. The examiner is assessing for pain, movement restrictions, and an endpoint feel. It helps determine if a collateral ligament injury is present.

A test used to assess for meniscal injuries in the knee. The patient lies on their stomach with their knee flexed at 90 degrees. The examiner pushes down on the foot and rotates the tibia. It applies pressure on the meniscus, causing pain if a tear is present.

A condition characterized by gradual pain around the kneecap, often caused by overuse. It's common in athletes and obese adolescents. Observing for patella position, swelling around the kneecap, and examining for tenderness, warmth, and tightness around the kneecap is essential during the assessment.

Treatments for Patellofemoral Joint Syndrome often focus on addressing patella position, muscle function, and support. Taping the kneecap towards the midline (McConnell taping) helps correct alignment. Strengthening the VMO muscle and promoting proper timing of its activation is crucial. Foot orthoses can also provide support and reduce stress on the knee.

The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) helps prevent the tibia from sliding backwards on the femur. It also provides stability against hyperextending the knee and controls excessive rotation.

The medial collateral ligament (MCL) supports the medial side of the knee, preventing the knee from collapsing inwards. It also attaches to the medial meniscus, further enhancing stability.

The menisci are C-shaped pads of cartilage inside the knee that provide cushioning, shock absorption, and stability. They help distribute force and prevent wear and tear on the knee joint.