Lower Limb 6

Knee joint

It consists of: Articulation between femur and tibia. Articulation between patella and femur.

Articular surfaces

Two femoral condyles. Superior aspect of tibial condyles.

Menisci

Medial meniscus. Lateral meniscus.

Synovial membrane

Infrapatellar fat pad. Alar fold. Infrapatellar synovial fold.

2 pouches: Subpopliteal recess. Suprapatellar bursa.

Fibrous membrane

Medially: blends with tibial collateral ligament and attached to medial meniscus. Laterally: separated from fibular collateral ligament and not attached to lateral meniscus. Anteriorly: attached to patella.

Oblique popliteal ligament.

Ligaments

Patellar ligament

Collateral ligaments

Fibular collateral ligament.

Tibial collateral ligament.

Cruciate ligaments

Anterior cruciate ligament. Posterior cruciate ligament.

Vascular supply and innervation

Tibiofibular joint

Popliteal fossa

Boundaries: is a diamond-shaped space. Upper part: Medially: semitendinosus and semimembranosus. Laterally: biceps femoris. Lower part: Medially: medial head of gastrocnemius. Laterally: plantaris and lateral head of gastrocnemius. Floor: Superiorly: capsule of knee joint and adjacent surfaces of femur and tibia. Inferiorly: popliteus. Roof: deep fascia.

Contents

Tibial and common fibular nerves


Tibial nerve: descends through popliteal fossa and exits deep to margin of plantaris to enter posterior compartment of leg. Common fibular nerve: follow biceps femoris tendon over lower lateral margin of popliteal fossa, and continues to lateral side of leg to enter lateral compartment of leg.

Popliteal artery and vein

Roof of popliteal fossa



Proximally: structures pass between thigh and leg through popliteal fossa. Distally: structures pass between leg and foot through tarsal tunnel on posteromedial side of ankle, except anterior tibial artery and the ends of deep and superficial peroneal (fibular) nerves.

Fibula. Tibia.

Leg is divided into anterior (extensor), posterior (flexor), and lateral (fibular or peroneal) compartments by: Interosseous membrane between tibia and fibula. Two intermuscular septa between fibula and deep fascia. Direct attachment of deep fascia to the anterior and medial borders of tibia.