Lecture Notes on the Knee Joint

Overview of the Knee

• Largest joint in the human body
• Compound joint involving:
  • Tibiofemoral Joint: Femur meets tibia (shin bone)
  • Patellofemoral Joint: Femur meets patella (kneecap)

Ligaments of the Knee

• Crucial for movement limitation and joint stabilization
• Types of Ligaments:
  • Cruciate Ligaments: Inside the knee joint.
    • Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL): Prevents forward movement of tibia relative to femur.
    • Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL): Prevents backward movement of tibia relative to femur.
  • Collateral Ligaments: Located on the sides of the knee.
    • Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL): Wider, located on the inner side (femur to tibia).
    • Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL): Found on the outer side (femur to fibula).

Additional Ligaments

• Transverse Ligament (Anterior Meniscomeniscal Ligament): Connects anterior lateral meniscus to anterior medial meniscus; important in knee extension.
• Anterolateral Ligament (ALL): Discovered in 2013; controls internal tibial rotation.
• Ligament of Risberg (Posterior Meniscophemoral Ligament): Binds posterior lateral meniscus to medial condyle of femur.

Tendons vs. Ligaments

• Difference: Ligaments connect bone to bone; tendons connect bone to muscle.
• Patellar Tendon (Patellar Ligament): Connects patella to tibia; involved in knee straightening.

Menisci and Articular Cartilage

• Medial and Lateral Menisci: Composed of connective tissue; protect ends of bones.
• Articular Cartilage: Smooth tissue covering bone ends at joints; minimizes friction.

Age-Related Changes

• Articular cartilage and menisci wear down with age.
• Changes lead to pain and inflammation due to bone grinding.

Closing Remarks

• Encouragement to like and subscribe for more content and support on Patreon.
• Open invitation for topic suggestions in comments.