Anatomy of the Knee

Bones of the Knee

• Consists of 3 Bones:• Distal Part of the Femur• Proximal Tibia• Patella

• The fibula is not considered part of the knee joint.

Bones of the Knee

Bones of the Knee

Joints of the knee

• The knee joint is the Largest joint in the body• Tibiofemoral Joint • Patellofemoral Joint

• The Proximal Tibiofibular joint is not considered to be part of the knee joint.

Ligaments of the Knee

• Anterior Cruciate Ligament• Posterior Cruciate Ligament• Lateral Collateral Ligament• Medial Collateral Ligament

Ligaments of the Knee(Anterior View)

The Meniscus

• 2 Fibrocartilage Discs:• Medial and Lateral Meniscus

• Attached to the Tibial Plateaus and Joint CapsuleFunctions:• Distribute Joint Pressure• Add Stability• Shock Absorption• Lubrication

The Meniscus

Total Knee(Posterior View)

Muscles of the Knee

• Anterior Muscles:• The Quadriceps:• Rectus Femoris (two joint muscle)• Vastus Medialis• Vastus Intermedius• Vastus Lateralis

• Sartorius

Muscles of the Knee

• Posterior:• Hamstrings:• Biceps Femoris • Semitendinosus• Semimembranosus

• Gracilus• Popliteus• Gastrocnemius

Muscles of the Knee OIA chart

Muscles of the Knee OIA chart

Bursa of the Knee

ROM of the Knee

• Tibiofemoral joint:• Flexion and Extension: 140-0 degrees

• Knee Flexed:• Internal Rotation: 30 degrees• External Rotation: 45 degrees

• “Screwing Home” Mechanism• During the final few degrees of knee extension the

tibia externally rotates on the femur, which brings the knee into its closed packed position

ROM of the Knee

Alignments of the Knee

• Q-angle• The angle of formed by the line connecting the ASIS

to the center of the patella and the line connecting the center of the patella and the tibial tuberosity

• Determines the line of pull of the patella at the patellofemoral joint

• Normal Ranges: • 18 degrees female• 13 degrees male

• Q-angle below normal: Genu Varum (bow-legged)• Q-angle above normal: Genu Valgum (knock Kneed)

Alignments of the Knee