Knee Joint

Question 1

What are the two joints in the knee joint capsule?

Answer 1

the tibiofemoral joint and the patellofemoral joint

Question 2

What movements occur at the knee joint?

Answer 2

flexion, extension and rotation

Question 3

What is the close packed position of the knee joint?

Answer 3

extension

Question 4

What position must the knee joint be in for rotation to occur?

Answer 4

flexion

Question 5

Which femoral condyle is longer and which is wider?

Answer 5

medial is longer, lateral is wider

Question 6

What is contained in the notch in the lateral side of the intercondylar area of the femur?

Answer 6

the ACL

Question 7

Is flexion and extension active or passive?

Answer 7

extension is passive, flexion is active

Question 8

In which direction does the femur rotate on the fixed tibia in flexion?

Answer 8

laterally

Question 9

Which ligament acts like an axis of rotation in extension and gets gradually tighter?

Answer 9

ACL

Question 10

Which muscle unlocks the knee?

Answer 10

popliteus

Question 11

What is the origin and insertion of popliteus?

Answer 11

originates on the popliteal surface of the tibia and inserts on the lateral condyle of the femur

Question 12

In which direction does the femur rotate on the fixed tibia in extension?

Answer 12

medially

Question 13

Does the synovial membrane cover the menisci?

Answer 13

no

Question 14

Does the synovial membrane cover the cruciate ligaments?

Answer 14

partially

Question 15

What reinforces the capsule anteriorly?

Answer 15

patellar tendon an retinacular fibres

Question 16

What reinforces the capsule laterally?

Answer 16

popliteus, biceps femoris, iliotibial tract

Question 17

What reinforces the capsule medially?

Answer 17

pes anserinus tendons

Question 18

What reinforces the capsule posteriorly?

Answer 18

tendon of semimembranosus (which gives off the oblique popliteal ligament)

Question 19

In the pes anserinus which two tendons have a bursa between them?

Answer 19

gracilis and semitendinosus

Question 20

Does the suprapatellar bursa communicate with the joint?

Answer 20

yes

Question 21

Does the bursa deep to popliteus communicate with the joint?

Answer 21

yes

Question 22

Which non communicating bursae are located anterior to the knee?

Answer 22

pre patellar, superficial infrapatellar, deep infrapatellar

Question 23

What are the attachments of the anterior cruciate ligament?

Answer 23

anterior part of the tibia to the lateral condyle of the femur

Question 24

What are the attachments of the posterior cruciate ligament?

Answer 24

posterior part of the tibia to the medial condyle of the femur

Question 25

What is the function of the anterior cruciate ligament?

Answer 25

stops the tibia from being displaced anteriorly

Question 26

What is the function of the posterior cruciate ligament?

Answer 26

stops the tibia from being displaced posteriorly

Question 27

When do patients with a posterior cruciate ligament injury feel instability?

Answer 27

while going down stairs

Question 28

When is the ACL injured?

Answer 28

when femur is forced into lateral rotation on a weight bearing knee

Question 29

When is the PCL injured?

Answer 29

fall on a flexed knee or a bumper bar impact pushing the femur posteriorly

Question 30

What tests assess the ACL and PCL?

Answer 30

the anterior and posterior draw test

Question 31

What are the two parts of the medial collateral ligament?

Answer 31

the long flat superficial part and the deep part which blends with the capsule and attaches to the medial meniscus

Question 32

What is the role of the medial collateral ligament?

Answer 32

resist lateral movement of the tibia and resist anterior movement of the tibia if the ACL is damaged

Question 33

What seperates the lateral collateral ligament from the lateral meniscus?

Answer 33

popliteus

Question 34

What are the functions of the menisci?

Answer 34

shock absorption and weight distribution

Question 35

Which menisci is more likely to be injured?

Answer 35

medial

Question 36

Why does a meniscal tear sometimes cause a locked knee?

Answer 36

part of the torn off menisci may get stuck in the joint

Question 37

Which mensici is bigger?

Answer 37

medial

Question 38

Are the meinsci avascular or vascular?

Answer 38

vascular laterally and avascular medially

Question 39

What 3 things maintain the normal alignment of the patellofemoral joint?

Answer 39

vastus medialis, medial patellar retinaculum, raised lip on lateral femoral condyle

Question 40

What is chondromalacia patellae?

Answer 40

a patellar tracking problem which leads to degeneration of cartilage

Question 41

Why are women more susceptible to patellar tracking problems?

Answer 41

because of the greater angle between the quadriceps tendon and the patellar tendon