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Anatomy and Biomechanics

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A Strategic Approach to Knee Arthritis Treatment

Abstract

The bony structures of knee joint are composed of femur, tibia, fibula, and patella. The bony structures are connected with surrounding soft tissues, such as ligaments, tendons, and capsular structures. The quadriceps and patella tendon are located in the anterior aspect of the knee joint. In the posteromedial aspect of the knee the medial hamstring tendons are observed. The iliotibial tract and biceps femoris are placed in the posterolateral aspect of the knee joint. The medial collateral ligament is a flat band-like structure attached to the medial epicondyle of the knee and to the medial metaphysis of the proximal tibia. The lateral collateral ligament is a cord like structure connecting the lateral femoral epicondyle to the fibula head. The menisci are a crescent shaped fibrocartilaginous structures placed between the distal femur and the tibial plateau. The cruciate ligaments are intraarticular, extrasynovial structures connecting the femur and the tibia. The knee joint is supplied blood from branches of the femoral and the popliteal artery. The nerve distribution to the knee joint is made by the branches of the femoral nerve, tibial nerve, common peroneal nerve, and obturator nerve. The knee joint is a modified hinge joint and can be moved in 6 directions, but the main movement is a flexion-extension. A combination of rolling and gliding movement of the femur against the tibial articular surface enables a maximum flexion of the knee joint. The tibia is externally rotated about 15 degrees during full extension of the knee joint. This rotational motion is called a screw-home movement. In the patellofemoral joint movement, the patella contacts the trochlea in a 30 degrees flexion, and the contact surface moves proximal as the flexion progresses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedics, Haeundae Bumin Hospital, Busan, South Korea

    Seung-Suk Seo & Gi-Hun Lee

  2. Inje University Busan Paik Hospital, Busan, South Korea

    Kyung-Jae Seo

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  2. Gi-Hun Lee
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Correspondence to Seung-Suk Seo .

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  1. Department of Orthopedics, Haeundae Bumin Hospital, Busan, Korea (Republic of)

    Seung-Suk Seo

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Seo, SS., Lee, GH., Seo, KJ. (2021). Anatomy and Biomechanics. In: Seo, SS. (eds) A Strategic Approach to Knee Arthritis Treatment. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4217-3_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4217-3_1

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