Lecture Notes: Anatomy of the Knee Joint

Overview

• Knee Joint Type:
  • Synovial hinge joint
  • Functions like a hinge
  • Partially surrounded by a fibrous capsule
  • Contains synovial fluid

Bones Involved

• Femur
• Tibia
• Fibula is not part of the knee joint; serves as a support strut for the tibia

Ligaments

Extracapsular Ligaments

• Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL):
  • Also known as the fibulocollateral ligament
  • Located along the lateral aspect of the knee
• Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL):
  • Also known as the tibial collateral ligament
  • Located along the medial aspect of the knee

Intracapsular Ligaments

• Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL):
  • Anterior aspect inside the capsule
• Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL):
  • Crosses the ACL in the posterior aspect

Menisci

• Function:
  • Provide shock absorption
  • Made of fibrocartilage
• Types of Menisci:
  • Lateral Meniscus
  • Medial Meniscus

Summary

• The knee joint is complex, consisting of major bones, ligaments, and menisci.
• The key structures include two major bones (femur and tibia), two types of ligaments (extracapsular and intracapsular), and two fibrocartilage pads (menisci) that help in shock absorption.