What are the attachments of the knee joint capsule?

Gross anatomy

  • the proximal femoral condyles and intercondylar fossa posteriorly.
  • patellar retinaculum anteriorly.
  • articular margin of the femur medially.
  • the femur just proximal to the groove for the popliteus tendon laterally.

Where does the knee joint capsule attach?

Now, the knee joint is surrounded by a joint capsule, which has an external fibrous capsule and an internal synovial membrane. Superiorly, the fibrous capsule attaches to the femur, just proximal to the articular margins of the condyles.

How do the knee bones attach to each other?

Tendons connect the knee bones to the leg muscles that move the knee joint. Ligaments join the knee bones and provide stability to the knee: The anterior cruciate ligament prevents the femur from sliding backward on the tibia (or the tibia sliding forward on the femur).

How does the joint capsule work?

Cells of the inner joint capsule layer produce synovial fluid. This thick fluid nourishes the cartilage, makes sure that the surfaces of the joint glide smoothly over one another, and acts as a shock absorber by spreading out the pressure put on the joint.

Which ligament forms part of the knee capsule?

capsular ligament
The articular capsule of the knee joint (commonly referred to as the capsular ligament) is the wide and lax joint capsule of the knee….

Articular capsule of the knee joint
Latin Capsula articularis articularis genus
Anatomical terminology

What are the components of the knee joint?

The knee is the largest joint in the body, and one of the most easily injured. It is made up of four main things: bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons. Bones. Three bones meet to form your knee joint: your thighbone (femur), shinbone (tibia), and kneecap (patella).

What is the screw home mechanism of knee?

The ‘screw-home’ mechanism is the rotation between the tibia and femur and is considered to be a key element to knee stability for standing upright. This mechanism serves as a critical function of the knee and it only occurs at the end of knee extension, between full extension (0°) and 20° degrees of knee flexion.

What holds the knee joint together?

There are two important groups of ligaments that hold the bones of the knee joint together, collateral ligaments and the cruciate ligament. Collateral ligaments are present on either side of the knee. They function to prevent the knee from moving too far during side to side motion.

What are the main stabilizers of the knee?

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a main stabilizer of the knee, providing both translational and rotatory constraint.

What is the knee capsule made of?

The knee capsule consists of two main layers, an outer layer and an inner layer. The outer layer is made up of a tough, fibrous membrane that is made up of ligament tissue. The inner layer is made up of a synovial membrane. This secretes synovial fluid.

What is Watchdog action of capsule?

3. Numerous sensory nerve endings ramify on the capsule. These nerves when stimulated produce contraction of the muscles by reflexes and thereby protect the joints. This is known as ‘watch dog’ action of the capsule.

What is the articular capsule of the knee joint?

The articular capsule of the knee joint (commonly referred to as capsular ligament) is wide and lax and thin in front and at the side; it contains the patella, ligaments, menisci, and bursae of the knee. The capsule consists of a synovial membrane and a fibrous membrane separated by fatty deposits anteriorly and posteriorly.

Why are capsule ligaments important to knee stability?

This along side the capsule ligaments enhances she stability of the knee. As with all of the structures that from the knee they are under most tension therefore more stable in an extended (closed packed) position in comparison to the laxity present in a flexed position (open packed).

Where are the extracapsular ligaments located in the knee?

Extracapsular ligaments are found outside the joint capsule and include the patellar ligament, lateral and medial collateral ligaments, and oblique and arcuate popliteal ligaments. Intracapsular ligaments are found inside the joint capsule, with the cruciate ligaments being the most well known of this subgroup.

What are the bones that make up the knee cap?

The patella (knee cap) is a round bone that moves along the front of the knee and it is attached to the tibia by the patellar tendon. The bones that make up the knee joint are the tibia, femur, and patella. The articular capsule of the knee joint surrounds the knee and consists of two main layers, an outer and inner layer.