The knee joint is the largest synovial (plating by synovial membrane) joint of the body. It is a major body weight bearing joint and is made up of three bones. On the upper part is the bone (femur) of the leg below the tibia (tibia) and on the front is the ceiling of the knee (patella).
Keep all these bones in place is various ligaments (difficult band or cord as structures), the joint capsule and muscles (flexible tough fibrous structure that surrounds the articulation).Click here! to download issue # 1, Physiology and human anatomy Guide and learn all you need to know about physiology and human anatomy.
The part of the femur to form the knee joint is ways side expanded and behind to form two oval-shaped structures called condlyes. Similarly, the part of the tibia forming the knee is extended and forms two condyles articulate with the corresponding femur condyles. The on the outer side is called the lateral condyle and that on the inner surface is called the medial condyle on the front of the patella articulates with the femur.
Clinicians also divided into compartments knee joint. The medial condyles form the medial compartment. The lateral condyles form the lateral compartment. Anterior compartment is between the patella and femur. It can arthritis of the lateral, medial or anterior compartment, individually
The ends of the bones are covered by cartilage (the tough, smooth and elastic structure). Cartilage function is to provide a smooth surface, for bones to move easily. It also acts as a damper.
This joint contains also two semicircular disks as structures, fact of fibrous cartilage called menisci. They can offer a congruent surface of the thigh bone to pass on the tibia.
The knee is a hinge joint, which means that it allows movement in a plain only. Flexion (bend) and extension (straighten the knee). Although amounts light rotation and translation also occur.
Internally the surface of this articulation (excluding the cartilage), is covered with a thin membrane (sheet or film as) structure called synovial membrane. The function of the synovial membrane is to secrete a fluid, which lubricates the joint and provides power to the avascular (having no blood supply) cartilage.
In the front (forward), the bones of the knee joint can easily be felt under the skin, but behind, they are covered by the bulky muscles and are difficult to feel. For this reason, even slight swelling in the knee is easily appreciated. It is in the hip joint where slight swelling is not obvious that it is surrounded by many muscles.
Four major ligaments stabilize this articulation. To the median line (on the inner surface) the medial collateral ligament. Laterally (on the outer side) the lateral collateral ligament. These ligaments stabilize the knee against an angle (tend to open corner joint) and translation (tendency to drag the bones in the opposite direction) forces.
Two other ligaments are crossed ligament previous and subsequent. It the main function is to stabilize the joint against the forces of the translation.
Acting on this joint muscles are (straighten) extensor and flexors (bend the joint). Extensor include the Quadriceps muscle. Flexor include Semitendenosus, Semimembranosus, and the Biceps Femoris (collectively the hamstrings muscles).
This articulation is also surrounded by small bag as structures, which have an inner wall of the telephonecalled synovial membrane. The function of these is to allow motion smooth ligaments and tendons various (cord as structures that attach muscle to bone) in the os.
Click here! to download issue # 1, Physiology and human anatomy Guide and learn all you need to know about physiology and human anatomy.
I hope that the information provided was useful. If you have any query on the knee joint Anatomy you can ask me to contact me page.
This page was last updated on December 28, 2010.
Causes of knee pain include...
Osteoarthritis of the knee
Knee bursitis
Meniscal
The ligament injury
Fracture of the knee
Fracture of the patella
Fracture of tibial Plateau
Osgood Schlatter disease
Knee replacement surgery
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