Knee (Tibiofemoral) Joint

Joe Muscolino

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    • The knee joint, also known as the tibiofemoral joint, is a synovial joint.
      • More specifically, it is a biaxial, modified hinge joint.
    • It is formed by the distal end of the femur meeting the proximal end of the tibia.
      • More specifically, it is formed by the femoral condyles meeting the tibial plateau.
      • Technically, the tibiofemoral joint can be stated as being two joints: medial tibiofemoral joint and lateral tibiofemoral joint.
    • It allows motion in two cardinal planes:
      • flexion/extension in the sagittal plane.
      • lateral rotation/medial rotation (external/internal rotation) in the transverse (horizontal) plane.

     

    NOTES:

    1. The knee joint is the largest joint in the human body.
    2. The rotation joint actions at the knee joint can only occur if the knee joint is first flexed (approximately 30 degrees or more).
    3. The reverse closed-chain joint actions of flexion and extension of the thigh/femur at the knee joint is extremely important functionally because it is involved with sitting down and standing up.
    4. The patellofemoral joint is enclosed within the same joint capsule as the tibiofemoral joint.
    5. The fibula has no function with movement at the knee joint (the fibula is involved with ankle/talocrural joint motion.

     

    Anterior view of the knee joint on the right side of the body.

    Anterior view of the knee joint on the right side of the body.

     

    Lateral view of the knee joint on the right side of the body.

    Lateral view of the knee joint on the right side of the body.