Anatomy, Knee Examination, ACL Injury Models, and Motor System Assessment

Vocabulary flashcards covering lower limb skeletal anatomy, clinical knee examination tests, rat ACL injury modeling techniques, and motor system neurological examination maneuvers.

Femur

The longest and heaviest bone in the body, consisting of a head, a neck, a shaft, and condyles.

Linea Aspera

A rough crest on the posterior surface of the femur that attaches to thigh muscles and bifurcates into the supracondylar ridges near the knee joint.

Patella

A large sesamoid bone surrounded by the tendon of the quadriceps femoris muscles that glides across the femur's patellar groove and acts as a fulcrum during knee extension.

Tibia

The prominent weight-bearing bone of the leg between the knee and ankle, consisting of medial and lateral condyles, a shaft, and the medial malleolus process.

Fibula

A stick-like leg bone that does not bear body weight, consisting of a head, shaft, and lateral malleolus process providing lateral stability to the ankle.

Quadriceps Femoris

The primary anterior compartment muscle group of the thigh—comprising the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, and rectus femoris muscles—whose primary function is knee extension.

Sartorius Muscle

Also called the Taylor's muscle; an anterior compartment thigh muscle that flexes the knee and causes lateral thigh rotation at the hip joint, aiding in cross-legged sitting.

Gracilis

A strap-like muscle in the medial compartment of the thigh that flexes the leg at the knee joint, as well as adducts and medially rotates the thigh.

Hamstring Muscles

The three posterior compartment thigh muscles—biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus—that cause flexion at the knee and extension at the hip.

Popliteus

A small muscle located posteriorly at the knee joint that causes medial rotation of the tibia to unlock an extended knee during flexion.

Prepatellar Bursitis

A condition suggested by swelling directly in front of the kneecap or tenderness over the top of the kneecap.

Osgood-Schlatter's Disease

A condition in children and adolescent populations suggested by tenderness at the tibial tubercle.

Sinding-Larsen Disease

A condition in children and adolescents suggested by tenderness at the inferior pole of the patella.

Gertie's Tubercle

The attachment site on the tibia for the iliotibial band running from the hip along the lateral side of the thigh.

Crepitus

The palpable grinding produced by motion, checked by placing the palm over the knee during active or passive flexion and extension.

Valgus Stress Test

A ligament maneuver testing the medial collateral ligament (MCL) by applying outward stress to the ankle with the knee flexed and extended.

Varus Stress Test

A ligament maneuver testing the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) by pushing the ankle medially with the knee flexed and extended.

Anterior Drawer Test

A test evaluating the ACL by placing hands below the knee with index fingers at the posterior joint line and pulling to see if the tibia moves forward.

Sag Sign Test

A maneuver evaluating for a PCL tear by flexing the knee to $90^\text{o}$ with foot flat on the table to observe if the tibia sags posteriorly relative to the femur.

McMurray's Test

A meniscal test where the knee is fully flexed, internally and externally rotated, and extended; a significant clunking sound indicates a displacing meniscal tear.

Apley Compression Test

A meniscal test performed prone with the knee flexed to $90^\text{o}$, applying an axial load while rotating the tibia internally and externally to check for clunking.

Duck Walk Test

A meniscal/cartilage test requiring the patient to get into a full squat position and walk.

Apprehension Test

A patella test performed by pushing the kneecap laterally to see if the patient becomes apprehensive that it may dislodge, suggesting prior patella dislocation.

Patella Grind Test

A test for patellofemoral dysfunction executed by pushing down on the kneecap and grinding it back and forth.

Microcomputed Tomography (Micro CT)

An imaging technique using X-rays to acquire two-dimensional cross-sectional images across an object and combine them into a three-dimensional reconstruction.

Lachman's Test

A clinical test assessing ACL integrity by pulling the tibia forward while stabilizing the femur; an intact ACL gives a firm endpoint while an injured ACL gives a soft end feel.

Hemarthrosis

The presence of blood inside the joint capsule, characteristic of an acute ACL injury.

Fasciculations

Spontaneous contractions of small muscle fibers caused by firing of muscle motor units, commonly seen in lower motor neuron disorders.

Cogwheeling

A ratcheting sensation palpated over the biceps tendon during passive arm flexion, extension, and wrist rotation, indicative of Parkinsonism.

Axillary Nerve

The nerve arising from $C5$ and $C6$ roots that innervates the deltoid muscles required for arm abduction.

Radial Nerve

The nerve derived from $C6$ and $C7$ roots that innervates the triceps muscle for arm extension at the elbow and the wrist extensors.

Superior Gluteal Nerve

The nerve arising from $L4$, $L5$, and $S1$ roots that provides motor information to the hip abductors (gluteus medius and minimus).

Femoral Nerve

The nerve originating from $L2$, $L3$, and $L4$ roots supplying the iliopsoas for hip flexion and the quadriceps muscle group for lower leg extension.

Peroneal Nerve

The nerve arising from $L4$ and $L5$ roots that supplies the tibialis anterior muscle responsible for ankle dorsiflexion.

Tibial Nerve

The nerve branches originating from $S1$ and $S2$ roots that supply the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles responsible for ankle plantar flexion.