There are four bones associated with the knee joint.
There are two main articulations and one that does not contribute to motion at the knee joint. They are:
Tibiofemoral Joint (knee joint)
Patellafemoral Joint
Proximal Tibiafibula articulation (lies outside the knee joint capsule)
The cruciate ligaments are enclosed within the articular capsule. They are called cruciate due to their crossing within the joint.
Rotate to a posterior view and add the anterior cruciate ligament, which passes from the anterior, medial aspect of the tibia to the postero-medial surface of the lateral condyle of the femur.
Add the posterior cruciate ligament which passes from the posterior, lateral aspect of the tibial spine to insert on the lateral surface of the medial condyle of the femur, anteriorly.
The cartilages of the knee joint are termed "menisci" (singular: meniscus). There are two menisci within the knee joint and both are enclosed within the articular capsule
Rotate to a superior view of the menisci with the femur removed. This view allows you to see the shape of the menisci and the cruciate ligaments.
Add the lateral collateral ligament (fibular collateral ligament) which is distinct from the capsule and spans from the lateral epicondyle of the femur to the head of the fibula. It resists adduction (medial movement) of the tibia on the femur.
The oblique popliteal ligament (not identified in this donor body) is a continuation of the semimembranosis muscle, Its function is to limit external rotation of the tibia on the femur and to limit knee extension and hyperextension.
The arcuate ligament (not identified in this donor body) has two bands which both originate at the head of the fibula posteriorly. The lateral head inserts on the lateral aspect of the femur, while the medial head inserts on the intercondylar area on the posterior aspect of the knee. It contributes to stabilization of the posterior lateral corner of the knee in cases of rotary instability. The arcuate ligament provides a pathway for the popliteus muscle to enter the joint capsule.
Add the medial collateral ligament (tibial collateral ligament), which has two layers.
The superficial layer spans from the medial epicondyle of the femur downward to the medial tibial flare.
The deep layer (a.k.a., posterior oblique ligament) originates at the same point and inserts along the medial tibial condyle.
The two layers are separated from each other by a bursa. Both portions limit abduction of the tibia on the femur when the knee is extended.
The genicular anastomosis (anastomosis around the knee joint) supplies the distal femur, proximal tibia, patella, joint capsule, synovium and superficial tissues. Vascular injection techniques have demonstrated that the anastomosis is composed of two interconnected arterial networks: a superficial network located in the superficial tissues, and a deep network situated adjacent to the bone and fibrous capsule of the knee joint.
The arteries which make up the genicular anastomosis are:
The remaining arteries (not identified in this donor body) are the...
Descending genicular artery - a branch of the femoral artery
Saphenous artery - a branch of the descending genicular artery
Anterior & posterior tibial recurrent arteries
Circumflex fibular artery
Descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery - arises from either the femoral artery or the profunda femoris artery
VH Dissector steps modified for Drexel Dissector by Dr. Haviva Goldman and Ms. Sophie Geagan (MD student) from original website activity created by Jeffrey Fahl, MD, Kyle Petersen, PhD, Richard Drake, PhD, Alesha Petitt, MA, Claira Ralston, MS and Kim Price, MA and modified by Jeffrey Fahl, MD, Michael Smith, PhD, Albany Medical College.