Introduction to Athletic Training: Knee Anatomy, Injuries, and Evaluation

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards detailing knee anatomy, bony landmarks, muscular functions, ligamentous structures, injuries, diagnostic tests, and surgical interventions based on athletic training lecture slides.

Knee Joint

The largest joint in the human body, classified as a modified synovial hinge joint that flexes and extends like a door hinge.

Bony Stability of the Knee

Very minimal structural stability provided by bones because two large, relatively flat surfaces meet at the joint, causing it to rely almost entirely on surrounding soft tissues for support.

Femur

The largest bone in the human body, located in the thigh, featuring distal condyles that articulate at the knee joint.

Tibia

The major weight-bearing bone of the lower leg located on the medial aspect, featuring the tibial tuberosity/tubercle.

Fibula

The long, slender, non-weight bearing bone situated on the lateral aspect of the lower leg.

Patella

The largest sesamoid bone in the body, commonly referred to as the kneecap, which assists the quadriceps in moving the leg and typically dislocates laterally.

Quadriceps Group

A four-muscle anterior thigh group whose primary collective motor function is knee extension when working in unison.

Rectus Femoris

The only biarticular muscle of the quadriceps group, crossing both the knee and hip joints to perform knee extension and hip flexion.

Vastus Lateralis

The lateral muscle of the quadriceps group that functions in knee extension.

Vastus Intermedius

A centrally located quadriceps muscle that assists in knee extension in conjunction with the other vastus muscles.

Vastus Medialis Oblique (VMO)

The medial portion of the quadriceps that contributes to knee extension and serves to dynamically stabilize the patella.

Hamstrings

A posterior thigh muscle group responsible for knee flexion and hip extension, crucial for running mechanics and bodily deceleration.

Semitendinosus

A medial hamstring muscle that performs knee flexion, hip extension, and internal rotation of the knee.

Semimembranosus

A medial hamstring muscle responsible for knee flexion, hip extension, and internal rotation.

Biceps Femoris

The lateral hamstring muscle responsible for knee flexion, hip extension, and external rotation of the knee.

Gastrocnemius

A biarticular calf muscle crossing both the knee and ankle; its primary action is ankle plantar flexion, and its secondary action is assisting the hamstrings with knee flexion.

Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL)

A ligament connecting the femur to the tibia on the inner side of the knee that is anatomically attached to the medial meniscus.

Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL)

A cord-like band of tissue connecting the femur to the fibula on the lateral aspect of the joint that prevents abnormal sideways bending.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)

A key stabilizing ligament situated in the center of the knee joint that resists anterior displacement of the tibia.

Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL)

The largest and strongest ligament located inside the knee joint.

Patellar Ligament

The fibrous band extending below the patella that connects the inferior pole of the kneecap to the tibial tuberosity.

Medial Meniscus

A C-shaped fibrocartilaginous pad positioned on the inner plateau of the tibia attached to the MCL.

Lateral Meniscus

A fibrocartilaginous disc located on the outside of the knee joint between the femoral condyle and tibial plateau.

Meniscal Repair

A surgical procedure in which the surgeon stitches the torn edges of the meniscus cartilage back together so they heal naturally.

Meniscectomy

A surgical procedure where the surgeon trims and excises only the unstable or damaged portion of the meniscus while preserving healthy tissue.

McMurray's Test

A physical examination maneuver utilized by healthcare providers to assess and detect tears in the knee meniscus.

Patellar Dislocation

An injury where the kneecap slips out of its vertical trochlear groove on the femur, typically shifting toward the lateral side of the knee.

Knee Dislocation

A severe medical emergency occurring when the femur and tibia are forced completely out of their normal anatomical alignment at the knee joint.

Valgus Force

A lateral blow to the knee directed inward toward the midline that drives the lower leg outward into a 'knock-kneed' angle, creating tensile stress on the MCL.

Grade 1 MCL Sprain

A mild ligament stretch presenting with minimal swelling and mild pain, generally resolving in $1\text{ to }3\,\text{weeks}$.

Grade 2 MCL Sprain

A moderate, partial tear of the ligament characterized by a loose sensation in the joint and an expected recovery period of $4\text{ to }8\,\text{weeks}$.

Grade 3 MCL Sprain

A severe complete rupture of the ligament producing joint instability, requiring $8\text{ to }12\,\text{weeks}$ of recovery, hinged bracing, and occasionally surgery.

Autograft

A reconstruction graft fashioned from tissue harvested from the patient's own body (commonly patellar, hamstring, or quadriceps tendon), frequently used for young, active athletes.

Allograft

A reconstruction graft procured from a human cadaver donor that allows for smaller incisions but carries a potentially slower rate of incorporation and healing.

Lachman's Test

A special diagnostic test for ACL tears performed with the knee flexed slightly while the examiner pulls the tibia anteriorly.

Anterior Drawer Test

An orthopedic evaluation for ACL deficiency where the patient's knee is flexed to $90^\circ$ and the tibia is pulled forward to check for anterior translation.

Pivot Shift Test

A clinical test assessing ACL function in which the knee is bent and rotated, where a palpable 'clunk' or excessive movement suggests instability.

Q Angle (Quadriceps Angle)

The angle formed between the ASIS of the pelvis, the midpoint of the patella, and the tibial tuberosity, illustrating the lateral vector pull of the quadriceps on the kneecap.

Normal Q Angle Ranges

Standard structural measurements equal to $10^\circ - 14^\circ$ in males and $15^\circ - 17^\circ$ in females due to female pelvic width.