Applied Anatomy- Knee

True or False?: The knee joint is called a trochoginglymus joint because of the internal and external rotation movements that can occur during flexion.

True

True or False?: The three vasti muscles of the quadriceps originate on the proximal femur and insert along with the rectus femoris on the superior pole

True

The vastus intermedius muscle, along with other vasti muscles, is primarily responsible for extending the knee while the hip is _____.

being flexed

The vastus medialis can be stretched by _____.

full knee flexion

The knee flexors, consisting of the semitendinosus, semimembranosus, biceps femoris (long head), and popliteus, are innervated by the tibial division of the _____ nerve.

sciatic

What is the point of insertion of the vastus intermedius muscle?

upper border of the patella and patellar tendon to the tibial tuberosity

What is the point of the origin of the vastus intermedius muscle?

upper two-thirds of the anterior surface of the femur

The ____ muscle can be palpated slightly distal to the greater trochanter down the anterolateral aspect of the thigh to the superolateral patella

vastus lateralis

The _____ muscle originates in the intertrochanteric line, anterior and inferior borders of the greater trochanter, gluteal tuberosity, upper half of the linea aspera, and entire lateral intermuscular septum.

vastus lateralis

The _____ muscle has its point of insertion in the medial half of the upper border of the patella and patellar tendon to the tibial tuberosity

vastus medialis

Identify an action performed by the vastus lateralis muscle

Extension of the knee

True or False?: The knee joint is the smallest diarthrodial joint in the body

False The knee joint is the LARGEST diarthrodial joint in the body

True or False? The vastus medialis destabilizes the patellofemoral stability because its distal fibers are detached from the superior medial patella.

False The vastus medialis is thought to be very important in maintaining patellofemoral stability because of the oblique attachment of its distal fibers to the superior medial patella.

Knee Extension :

Rectus femoris Vastus Lateralis Vastus Intermedius Vastus Medialis

Quads are

Rectus femoris, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Intermedius, Vastus Medialis

femoral nerve

Rectus femoris, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Intermedius, Vastus Medialis

Identify the point of origin of the rectus femoris muscle.

The anterior inferior iliac spine of the ilium and the groove (posterior) above the acetabulum.

When the hip is flexed, the rectus femoris becomes shorter, which reduces its effectiveness as a(n)______.

extensor of the knee

The knee joint proper, or tibiofemoral joint, is classified as a ____ joint. Saddle ginglymus ball and socket gliding

ginglymus

The _____ muscle group is located in the posterior compartment of the thigh and is responsible for the knee FLEXION.

hamstring

The knee joint is primarily a ___ joint. gliding saddle ball and socket hinge

hinge

Flexion and extension of the knee occur in the sagittal plane, whereas internal and external rotations occur in the ______.

horizontal plane

The vastus lateralis muscle, along with the other vasti muscles, functions with the rectus femoris in _____.

knee extension

The vastus lateralis is strengthened through _____.

knee extension activities against resistance

The hamstrings are primarily _______ in addition to serving as hip extensors

knee flexors

Development of the strength and endurance of the quadriceps is essential for the maintenance of _____.

patellofemoral stability

The sartorius, gracilis, and semitendinosus all join together distally to form a tendinous expansion known as the ____.

pes anserinus

A ____ is an anatomical variant among some individuals that may be irritated or inflamed with injuries or overuse of the knee. risorius flava plica carnosus

plica

Just posterior to the patellar tendon is the infra fat pad, which is often an intersection point for synovial folds of tissue known as _____.

plica

The muscle group that extends the knee is located in the anterior compartment of the thigh and is known as the _______.

quadriceps

The vastus intermedius muscle is used in ________.

running, jumping, hopping, skipping, and walking

Identify an exercise that strengthens the quadriceps muscles

step-ups

This is the anterior view of the knee joint with patella removed. Label D and I

D- Lateral meniscus Y- Medial meniscus

Identify the muscles in the quadriceps group

- Vastus lateralis -Vastus Intermedius -Vastus medialis -Rectus femoris

Identify some of the key bony landmarks of the knee.

-Medial and lateral femoral condyles -Gerdy's tubercle -Superior and inferior poles of the patella

Identify the muscles in the hamstring muscle group

-The semitendinosus -The semimembranosus -The biceps femoris

Two very important ligaments of the knee are the ____.

anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments

The pes anserinus attaches to the _____.

anteromedial aspect of the proximal tibia below the level of the tibial tuberosity

Where can the vastus medialis muscle be palpated?

Anterior medial side of the thigh just above the superomedial patella

tibial nerve

Biceps femoris LH, Semimembranosus, Semitendinosus, popliteus, gastrocnemius

Knee EXTERNAL rotation :

Biceps femoris- LH

Identify and describe the types of movement that occur in the knee joint Flexion Extension External rotation Internal rotation

Flexion: Bending or decreasing the angle between the femur and the leg Extension: Straightening or increasing the angle between the femur and the leg External rotation: Rotary movement of the leg laterally AWAY from the midline Internal rotation: Rotary movement of the leg medially TOWARD the midline

Identify an action performed by the popliteus muscle

Internal rotation of the knee as it flexes

Identify an accurate statement about anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear

It is one of the most common serious injuries to the knee

This is the anterior view of the knee joint with the patella removed. Label K and H

K- Posterior cruciate ligament H- Anterior cruciate ligament

Identify an action performed by the rectus femoris muscle

anterior pelvic rotation

Identify a true statement about the Q angle or quadriceps angle

A high Q angle is likely to predispose a person to patellar subluxation

Knee Flexion :

Biceps femoris LH Biceps femoris SH Semimembranosus Semitendinosus Popliteus Gastrocnemius

Hamstrings are

Biceps femoris LH, Biceps femoris SH Semimembranosus, Semitendinosus

common peroneal nerve

Biceps femoris SH

Knee INTERNAL rotation :

Semitendinosus Semimembranosus Popliteus

The ____ nerve innervates the knee extensors- rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, and vastus lateralis

femoral

The ______ serves as the attachment for some very important knee joint structures, but it is NOT a part of the knee joint articulation.

fibula

The flexibility of the hamstrings can be improved by _____.

flexing the hip slowly while maintaining knee extension in a long sitting position

The ______ is a sesamoid bone contained within the quadriceps muscle group and the patellar tendon.

Patella

The angle formed at the patella by the intersection of the central line of pull for the entire quadriceps and the line of pull of the patellar tendon is referred to as the ______ ______.

Q (quadriceps) angle

The upper anteromedial surface of the tibia just below the medial condyle serves as the insertion for the sartorius, gracilis, and ____. Biceps femoris vastus medialis popliteus semitendinosus

Semitendinosus

What is the point of insertion of the rectus femoris muscle?

Superior aspect of the patella and patellar tendon to the tibial tuberosity

What is the point of insertion of the popliteus muscle?

the upper posteromedial surface of the tibia

The quadriceps muscles attach to the patella and by the patellar tendon to the tuberosity of the _____.

tibia