Injuries to the Knee

Abstract

The knee joint is one of the larger synovial joints of the body, and is involved in a good deal of weight-bearing. The femoral condyles (superiorly) articulate with the tibial plateau (inferiorly). Anteriorly, the patella articulates on the femoral condyles, moving across the cartilaginous articular surface as the joint is put through extension and flexion. The upper pole is attached to the quadriceps tendon, and the lower pole to the patellar tendon. The stability of the knee is afforded by the lateral, medial and cruciate ligaments, and the menisci.