Jan McElroy PT, MS, PCS 2009
Do not copy without permission
The knee joint
connects:
the femur
superiorly
Patella
(or knee cap)
•
Femur
to the
Tibia and fibula
inferiorly
•
Fibula
Tibia
•Knee
movements
are primarily in the
sagittal plane:
flexion & extension
Anterior view
Right knee
Left FemurPosterior view
•
Medial condyle
•
Lateral condyle
•
Intercondylar
fossa
•
Medial
epicondyle
•
Lateral
epicondyle
•
Patellar surface
Left FemurAnterior view
TIBIA
•
Medial condyle
•
Lateral condyle
•
Tuberosity
•
Tibial plateau
FIBULA
•
Right knee
Anterior view
Head of the
fibula
Right knee Posterior view

Quadriceps (rectus femoris,
vastus medialis, vastus lateralis,
vastus intermedialis
Note:
The rectus femoris is
the only muscle of the
quadriceps group that
crossed both the hip
and the knee.
Referred to as a
“2 joint muscle”.
From:
Novartis Interactive Atlas,
Frank Netter artist
Anterior view
right thigh

Hamstrings
› Biceps femoris
› Semitendinosus
› semimembranosus
Note: All of the
hamstrings cross both
the hip joint and the
knee joint. They are all
referred to as “2 joint
muscles”.
Posterior view
right thigh

Gastrocnemius
› Lateral head
› Medial head
Note: The gastrocnemius
crosses both the knee
and the ankle making
it a “2 joint muscle”.
Posterior view
right thigh
The distal end of
the fibula forms
the
lateral malleolus
The distal end of
the tibia forms the
medial malleolus
Anterior view
Right foot & ankle
The foot is
divided into 3
general regions:
Tibia
Fibula
Midfoot
Forefoot
Hindfoot
Lateral view
Right foot & ankle
The Hindfoot consist of 2 bones:
Calcaneus (heel bone) & Talus
Tibia
Fibula
Hindfoot
Lateral view
Right foot & ankle
The midfoot
consists of 5
small bones:
•
Navicular
Cuboid
&
• 3 Cuneiforms
•
These 5 bones
of the midfoot
are called
Tarsals
Superior view
Left foot
The forefoot consists
of:
5 Metatarsals
(first thru 5th)
•
&
5 proximal
phalanges
•
&
4 middle
phalanges
•
(the “big toe” only has a
proximal and a
distal…no middle
phalange)
&
• 5 distal phalanges
Talocrural joint Subtalar joint Midtarsal joint
(ankle joint)
tibia, fibula, talus
talus, calcaneus
calcaneocuboid,
talonavicular
Tarsometatarsal
joints
Metatarsophalangeal
joints
Tibialis Anterior
(commonly called
the anterior tib)
•
•
Peroneus longus
•
Extensor digitorum
longus (digitorum
refers to the digits or
“toes”)
Anterior view
Right leg
From: Novartis Interactive Atlas,
Frank Netter artist
•
Gastrocnemius
(often called the
“gastroc”)
• Achilles tendon
(also called the “heel
cord”)
•
Soleus
Note: though the
gastroc and soleus both insert
into the achilles tendon, the
soleus only crosses the ankle
joint…while the gastroc is a 2
joint muscle crossing both the
knee and the ankle.
Posterior view
Right leg
From: Novartis Interactive Atlas,
Frank Netter artist
1.
Atlas of Human Anatomy, Frank Netter
2.
McMinn’s Color Atlas of Human Anatomy, Abrahams,
Hutchings, & Marks
3.
Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System, Donald
Neumann
4.
Anatomy Coloring Book, Kapit & Elson