JOINTS • Leg/Knee 9

Joint opened, Femur Suprapatellar

knee slightly Articularis (synovial) bursa
in flexion genus muscle Cruciate ligaments
(covered by synovial MRI
Synovial membrane membrane)
(cut edge)
Medial condyle
of femur
Lateral condyle of femur
Infrapatellar
Origin of popliteus synovial fold
tendon (covered by
synovial membrane) Medial meniscus
Subpopliteal recess Alar folds (cut)
Lateral meniscus Infrapatellar fat pads
(lined by synovial
Fibular collateral membrane)
ligament
Suprapatellar (synovial)
Head of fibula bursa (roof reflected)
Patella (articular surface
on posterior aspect) Vastus medialis
muscle (reflected
Vastus lateralis muscle inferiorly)
(reflected inferiorly) ACL

Right knee in flexion: anterior view Intercondylar notch

Anterior cruciate
Posterior
ligament
cruciate ligament
Lateral condyle of
femur (articular Medial condyle
surface) of femur (articular
surface)
Popliteus tendon
Medial meniscus
Fibular collateral
Tibial collateral Anterior cruciate ligament
ligament
ligament visualized between femoral
Lateral meniscus condyles
Transverse Medial condyle
ligament of knee of tibia

Head of fibula Tibial tuberosity

Gerdy’s tubercle
Posterolateral

LIGAMENTS ATTACHMENTS FUNCTION/COMMENT

KNEE
Femorotibial Joint—Anterior Structures
Anterior cruciate ligament Posteromedial aspect of lateral Primary restraint to anterior tibial translation;
(ACL) femoral condyle to anterior tib- secondary restraint to varus (in extension) & IR
Anteromedial bundle ial eminence Tight in knee flexion, lax in extension
Posterolateral bundle Tight in knee extension, lax in flexion
Transverse meniscal ligament Connects both anterior horns of Stabilizes menisci; can be torn/injured
menisci to tibia
Other Structures
Ligamentum mucosum Distal femoral articulation to Synovial remnant. Covers anterior notch (ACL);
(anterior plica) anterior tibial plateau may need to be debrided for full visualization
Infrapatellar fat pad Posterior to patellar tendon, an- Cushions patellar tendon. Can become fibrotic
terior to intercondylar notch or impinged on, causing knee pain (Hoffa
syndrome)
See Patellofemoral Joint for other anterior structures

NETTER’S CONCISE ORTHOPAEDIC ANATOMY 297

 JOINTS • Leg/Knee 9
Joint opened, Femur Suprapatellar
knee slightly Articularis (synovial) bursa
in flexion genus muscle Cruciate ligaments
(covered by synovial MRI
Synovial membrane membrane)
(cut edge)
Medial condyle
of femur
Lateral condyle of femur
Infrapatellar
Origin of popliteus synovial fold
tendon (covered by
synovial membrane) Medial meniscus
Subpopliteal recess Alar folds (cut)
Lateral meniscus Infrapatellar fat pads
(lined by synovial
Fibular collateral membrane)
ligament
Suprapatellar (synovial)
Head of fibula bursa (roof reflected)
Patella (articular surface
on posterior aspect) Vastus medialis
muscle (reflected
Vastus lateralis muscle inferiorly)
(reflected inferiorly) ACL

Right knee in flexion: anterior view Intercondylar notch

Anterior cruciate
Posterior
ligament
cruciate ligament
Lateral condyle of
femur (articular Medial condyle
surface) of femur (articular
surface)
Popliteus tendon
Medial meniscus
Fibular collateral
Tibial collateral Anterior cruciate ligament
ligament
ligament visualized between femoral
Lateral meniscus condyles
Transverse Medial condyle
ligament of knee of tibia

Head of fibula Tibial tuberosity

Gerdy’s tubercle
Posterolateral

LIGAMENTS ATTACHMENTS FUNCTION/COMMENT

KNEE
Femorotibial Joint—Anterior Structures
Anterior cruciate ligament Posteromedial aspect of lateral Primary restraint to anterior tibial translation;
(ACL) femoral condyle to anterior tib- secondary restraint to varus (in extension) & IR
Anteromedial bundle ial eminence Tight in knee flexion, lax in extension
Posterolateral bundle Tight in knee extension, lax in flexion
Transverse meniscal ligament Connects both anterior horns of Stabilizes menisci; can be torn/injured
menisci to tibia
Other Structures
Ligamentum mucosum Distal femoral articulation to Synovial remnant. Covers anterior notch (ACL);
(anterior plica) anterior tibial plateau may need to be debrided for full visualization
Infrapatellar fat pad Posterior to patellar tendon, an- Cushions patellar tendon. Can become fibrotic
terior to intercondylar notch or impinged on, causing knee pain (Hoffa
syndrome)
See Patellofemoral Joint for other anterior structures

NETTER’S CONCISE ORTHOPAEDIC ANATOMY 297

 JOINTS • Leg/Knee 9
Joint opened, Femur Suprapatellar
knee slightly Articularis (synovial) bursa
in flexion genus muscle Cruciate ligaments
(covered by synovial MRI
Synovial membrane membrane)
(cut edge)
Medial condyle
of femur
Lateral condyle of femur
Infrapatellar
Origin of popliteus synovial fold
tendon (covered by
synovial membrane) Medial meniscus
Subpopliteal recess Alar folds (cut)
Lateral meniscus Infrapatellar fat pads
(lined by synovial
Fibular collateral membrane)
ligament
Suprapatellar (synovial)
Head of fibula bursa (roof reflected)
Patella (articular surface
on posterior aspect) Vastus medialis
muscle (reflected
Vastus lateralis muscle inferiorly)
(reflected inferiorly) ACL

Right knee in flexion: anterior view Intercondylar notch

Anterior cruciate
Posterior
ligament
cruciate ligament
Lateral condyle of
femur (articular Medial condyle
surface) of femur (articular
surface)
Popliteus tendon
Medial meniscus
Fibular collateral
Tibial collateral Anterior cruciate ligament
ligament
ligament visualized between femoral
Lateral meniscus condyles
Transverse Medial condyle
ligament of knee of tibia

Head of fibula Tibial tuberosity

Gerdy’s tubercle
Posterolateral

LIGAMENTS ATTACHMENTS FUNCTION/COMMENT

KNEE
Femorotibial Joint—Anterior Structures
Anterior cruciate ligament Posteromedial aspect of lateral Primary restraint to anterior tibial translation;
(ACL) femoral condyle to anterior tib- secondary restraint to varus (in extension) & IR
Anteromedial bundle ial eminence Tight in knee flexion, lax in extension
Posterolateral bundle Tight in knee extension, lax in flexion
Transverse meniscal ligament Connects both anterior horns of Stabilizes menisci; can be torn/injured
menisci to tibia
Other Structures
Ligamentum mucosum Distal femoral articulation to Synovial remnant. Covers anterior notch (ACL);
(anterior plica) anterior tibial plateau may need to be debrided for full visualization
Infrapatellar fat pad Posterior to patellar tendon, an- Cushions patellar tendon. Can become fibrotic
terior to intercondylar notch or impinged on, causing knee pain (Hoffa
syndrome)
See Patellofemoral Joint for other anterior structures

NETTER’S CONCISE ORTHOPAEDIC ANATOMY 297