The Knee Joint
Deb Risler
Jennifer White
Fran Moore
What Type of Joint is the Knee?
1. The knee joint, also known as the tibiofemoral
joint is primarily a hinge
joint.
2.The femur, tibia and the
patella articulate to form the
tibiofemoral (knee) joint
The Normal Range of Flexion and
Extension
3. The knee can usually extend to 180
degrees and move from there to about 140
degrees of flexion
Q-Angle
4.The angle at the
patella formed by the
intersection of the line
of pull of quadriceps
with the line of pull of
the patella tendon
Ligaments Within the Knee
5.The anterior cruciate
ligament (ACL) and
posterior cruciate
ligament cross within
the knee between the
tibia and femur
Menisci
15. Menisci are
located in the
knee to absorb
shock and
prevent friction
Femoral Nerve
9. If injury of the Femoral
Nerve occurred, Knee
Extension would be
affected
Knee Movements and Planes
• 7. Flexion and
extension occur in the
sagittal plane
• Flexion is the action
of bending a joint,
such as your knee or
elbow. The opposite
motion is extension,
which is the act of
straightening a joint,
such as the knee
when you are
standing
Knee Movements and Planes
Cont.
• 7. Internal and external
rotation occur in the
horizontal plane
• 6. The tibiofemoral
(knee) joint is
sometimes referred as
a trochoginglymus joint
because of the internal
and external rotation
movements that can
occur during flexion
8.Primary Knee Extensors
•
•
•
•
Rectus Femoris
Vastus Medialis
Vastus Intermedius
Vastus Lateralis
Rectus Femoris
• Origin: Anterior inferior iliac spine of the ilium
and groove (superior) above the acetabulum.
• Insertion: Superior aspect of the patella tendon
to the tibial tuberosity.
• Action: -Extension of the knee (Sagittal)
-Flexion of the hip (Sagittal)
-Anterior pelvic rotation (Sagittal)
• Innervations: Femoral Nerve (L2-L4)
Vastus Lateralis (externus)
• Origin: Interochanteric line, anterior nad inferior
borders of the greater trochanter, gluteal
tuberosity, upper ½ of the linea aspera and
entire lateral intermuscular septum
• Insertion: Lateral border of the patella and
patellar tendon to the tibial tuberosity
• Action: Extension of the knee (Sagittal)
• Innervations: Femoral Nerve (L2-L4)
Vastus Medialis (internus)
• Origin: Whole length of linea aspera and medial
condyloid ridge
• Insertion: Medial ½ of upper border of patella
and patellar tendon to tibial tuberosity
• Action: Extension of the knee (Sagittal)
• Innervations: Femoral Nerve (L2-L4)
Vastus Intermedius
• Origin: Upper 2/3 of anterior surface of femur
• Insertion: Upper border of patella and patellar
tendon to tibial tuberosity
• Action: Extension of the knee (Sagittal)
• Innervations: Femoral nerve (L2-L4)
14. Primary Knee Flexors
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Biceps Femoris
Semimembranosus
Semitendinosus
Popliteus
Sartorius
Gracilis
Gastrocnemius
Biceps Femoris
• Origin: Long head- Ischial tuberosity
Short head- Lower half of the linea aspera, and
lateral condyloid ridge
• Insertion: Head of the fibula and lateral condyle of the tibia
• Action: -Flexion of the knee (Sagittal)
-Extension of the hip (Sagittal)
-Posterior pelvic rotation (Sagittal)
-External rotation of the knee (Transverse)
-External rotation of the hip (Transverse
• Innervations: Long head- Sciatic nerve-tibial division (S1S3)
Short head- Sciatic nerve-peroneal division
(L5, S1, S2)
Semitendinosus
• Origin: Ischial tuberosity
• Insertion: Upper anterior medial surface of the tibia just
below the condyle
• Action: -Flexion of the knee (Sagittal)
-Extension of the hip (Sagittal)
-Posterior pelvic rotation (Sagittal)
-Internal rotation of the knee (Transverse)
-Internal rotation of the hip (Transverse)
• Innervations: Sciatic nerve- tibial division (L5, S1, S2)
Semimembranosus
• Origin: Ischial tuberosity
• Insertion: Posteromedial surface of the medial tibial condyle
• Action: -Flexion of the knee (Sagittal)
-Extension of the hip (Sagittal)
-Posterior pelvic rotation (Sagittal)
-Internal rotation of the knee (Transverse)
-Internal rotation of the hip (Transverse)
• Innervations: Sciatic nerve- tibial division (L5, S1, S2)
Popliteus
• Origin: Posterior surface of the lateral condyle of
femur
• Insertion: Upper posterior medial surface of the tibia
• Action: -Internal rotation of the knee as it flexes
(Transverse)
-Flexion of the knee (Sagittal)
• Innervations: Tibial nerve (L5, S1)
Biceps Femoris
10.Contracture of biceps femoris would lead to loss of:
-Extension of the knee
11. This diagram is representing the
Valgus strain applied in knee joint. If the
intensity of this strain is increased
suddenly then the anterior cruciate
ligament (ACL) and/or posterior cruciate
ligament (PCL) are likely to be injured
Posterior Cruciate Ligament
12. The diagram
represents the
posterior cruciate
ligament tear.
This is a very rare
injury and usually
come about through
direct contact with an
opponent or with the
playing surface.
13. Anatomy of the Knee