Knee Viva Cards

Femur Landmarks of the Knee

Head of femur

Neck of femur

Greater trochanter

intertrochanteric line

lessor trochanter

Lines aspera

Pectineal line

Gluteal tubersoity

Joints In The Knee + Function

Tibiofemoral Joint- Hinge, flexion and extension.

Patella femoral joint- Plane Joint, moves across the trochlear grove of femur

Tibiofibular joint- Plane joint, no active movement but helps with ankle movement due to small glide

Screw Home Mechanism + Function

The rotation of the tibia and femur at end range of extension

Last 20 degrees tibia will externally rotate 15 degrees

This allows the quads to be able to relax

It’s unlocked by the popliteus muscle

Q Angle and use

It’s formed by the line of pull of the quadriceps and the patella tendon.

It’s used during knee assessment when observing valgus or varus alignment

Bursa + Most common in knee

Small fluid sac filled with synovial fluid that helps reduce friction between moving tissue

Suprapatellar

Prepatella

infrapatella

Pes anserine

Seminmembranosus

Ligaments + Function + Insertion

ACL—-Anterior tibia to posterior lateral condyle—- stops tibia moving forward

PCL—-Posterior Tibia to medial condyle—- Stops tibia sliding backwards

MCL—-Medial epicondyle of femur to tibia shaft—- Prevents valgus stress

LCL—-Lateral Femoral condyle to head of Fibula—- Prevents varus stress

What is meniscus

-Disc of fibrocartilage

-C shaped

-Shock absorber

-Decreases friction

Meniscus blood supply

The outside layer of meniscus has better blood supply due to higher vasculiation

The center meniscus has bad blood supply due to being avascular

4 Anterior Muscles of the Knee

Rectus Femoris—- 2 heads, one from AIIS and the other from acetabulum—Goes to patella tendon—- flexes hip and extends knee

Vastus lateralis—- Greater trochanter to patella tendon—- extends knee

Vastus medialis—- Intertrochanteric Line to patella tendon—- extends knee

Vastus Intermedius—- Later top femur to patella tendon— extends knee

4 Posterior Muscle Of knee

Bicep Femoris—- 2 heads, Long head ischial tuberosity, short head linea aspera of femur— join together and insert on the head of femur— flexes knee and extends hip

Semitendenosus—- ischial tuberosity to posterior medial tibia condyle— flexes knee, extends hip

Semimembranosus—- ischial tubersoity to posterior medial tibia condyle- flexes knee, extends hip

Popliteus—- lateral epicondyle of femur to just above soleal line- unlocks the knee

2 medial muscles of the knee

Satorius—- ASIS and runs diagonally to upper medial tibia (pes anserine) knee flexion, hip flexion, abduction and internal rotation

Gracilis—- Pubis to upper medial tibia (pes anserine) Knee flexion, internal rotation and adduction of hip

What is Pes anserine

The insertion of sartoruis, gracilis, semitendinosus

What is the stress strain curve

It shows how tissue strains under stress.

The more stress you place upon the tissue the higher the strain, this can cause you to tear tissue if you go past your yield point

Toe region, elastic region, plastic region, failure point

Meniscus Tears

Can be caused through trauma such as twisting or impact or degenerative such as gradual wear and tear