Archive for the ‘Foot Health’ Category
Let’s start with the special knee joints of the body’s most important and most commonly injured in sport generally. Begin presenting an overview of the anatomy of the knee, to serve as frame of reference for other more specific issues (injuries, muscles involved in each movement, knee function …).
The anatomy of the knee is quite complicated by the multitude of elements that are both muscles and ligaments, menisci, bone elements with characteristic forms … Let presenting the subject gradually.
Bony elements of the knee joint
knee bones
The knee joint is composed of the distal femoral epiphysis, the proximal epiphysis of the tibia and patella.
Distal femoral epiphysis *: That is, the bottom of the femur. Formed by the two femoral condyles, rounded shape. Between both condyles there intercondylar notch that separates the back. On the sides of both condyles are some bony prominences called epicondyles.
* Patella: Situated in front of the knee, ahead of the femoral trochlea. Not in the picture. The patella tendon attaches the quadriceps. From the patella to the tuberosity of the tibia is the patellar tendon.
* Proximal tibial epiphysis: The top of the tibia, which is flattened, so called the tibial plateau.
The image shows the fibula (lower left), but the fibula is not part of the knee joint
Meniscus
The femoral condyles are rounded, but are not perfectly round. In addition, the tibial plateau is flat, so that the articular surfaces between the femur and tibia are very different, can not articulate to be very inconsistent ways.
The menisci promote consistency between these joint surfaces so different. Are rings of wedge-shaped fibrocartilage. The meniscus is a screw almost closed, while the inner knee is not as cerrado.meniscos
Left: medial meniscus. Right: lateral meniscus.
Ligaments
Inside of the knee:
* Anterior cruciate ligament: You sound so common it is to be injured in sports such as football, skiing, contact sports, extreme …
* Posterior cruciate ligament.
On the outside of the knee:
* Medial ligament.
* Lateral ligament.
Both lateral ligaments ranging from the epicondyles of the femur to the tibia. You do it on the inner face, and the other by the outer. In the knee ligaments are more but these are the most remarkable.
Muscles acting on the knee
The quadriceps muscle is the principal. It is the most voluminous, consisting of four muscle bellies. Make the movement of knee extension.
The hamstrings, located on the back of the thigh (also called femoral muscles and hamstrings) are responsible for flexion (bending the knee). Are primarily the biceps femoris, semitendinosus and semimembranosus.