Knee Joint

Question 1

Describe the vessels of the knee;

Answer 1

Vascular supply of the knee comes from branches of the femoral, lateral femoral circumflex and popliteal vessels (superiorly) anastamosing with branches of the anterior tibial and circumflex peroneal art. (inferiorly).

Question 2

Answer 2

Question 3

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Question 4

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Question 5

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Question 6

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Question 7

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Question 8

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Question 9

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Question 10

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Question 11

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Question 12

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Question 13

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Question 14

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Question 15

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Question 16

What is the function of the knee?

Answer 16

Flexion and extension.

Also has a locking mechanism to allowing standing.

Question 17

What are the five ligaments asssociated with the knee?

Answer 17

Petallar ligmanet

Medial and alteral collateral ligaments

Anterior and posterior cruciate ligament

Question 18

Describe the MCL and LCL;

Answer 18

MCL; Broad ligament which blends with joint capsule.

LCL; Discrete from the joint capsule.

Question 19

Describe the ACL and PCL;

Answer 19

ACL and PCL run from intercondylar region of the tibia and to the distal femur. Stablise knee in AP plane.

Question 20

Describe the ACL and its function;

Answer 20

ACL runs from the anterior tibial spine to the lateral condyle of the femur. Prevents ant. translation of the tibia on the femur.

Question 21

Describe the PCL and its function;

Answer 21

PCL runs from the posterior tibial spine to the medial femoral condyle. It prevents posterior translation of the tibia on the femur.

Question 22

Where are the ACL and PCL located?

Answer 22

Both cruciates are within the knee joint but outside the articular cavity.

Question 23

Describe the structures of the knee joint capsule;

Answer 23

Medial collateral ligament and medial meniscus are fused with the fibrous membrane (hence injury to the medial knee can damage these structures).

LCL and lateral meniscus are not attatched to the capsule.

Question 24

What are the bursae of the knee?

Answer 24

Suprapetallar bursae

Prepetallar bursae

Infrapetallar bursae

Question 25

Which bursae usually fills with fluid following a joint effusion?

Answer 25

Suprapetellar bursae

Question 26

What are menisci?

Answer 26

Fibrocartilage discs. Improve articulation.

Question 27

What is the clinical importance of the pes anserinus?

Answer 27

Formed by the tendons of sartorius, gracilis and semitendonous. These tendons can be used to reconstruct torn ACL.

Question 28

What is the terrible/unhappy triad?

Answer 28

Lateral force to the knee can result in damage to the MCL, ACL and lateral meniscus. Unhappy triad.