ligaments of the knee joint

classification of knee joint ligaments with diagram

1. DR.SADIA ARSHAD.PT
B.Sc,BSPT,PPDPT,MSc,MPPTA
([email protected])

2. 1-EXTRACAPSULAR LIGAMENTS
Patellar ligament
Collateral ligaments
Fibular collateral ligament
Tibial collateral ligament
OBLIQUE POPLITEAL LIGAMENT
ARCUATE POPLITEAL LIGAMENT

3. 2-INTRACAPSULAR LIGAMENTS
Cruciate ligaments
Anterior cruciate ligament
Posterior cruciate ligament
Semilunar ligaments
Medial meniscus
Lateral meniscus

4. PATELLAR LIGAMENT :
Inferior continuation of the quadriceps
femoris tendon is known as the patellar
ligament OR ligamentum patellae
Attachments:
-Upper part of patellar ligament is attached
to the margins and apex of patella.
-Lower part of patellar tendon is attached
to the tibial tuberosity.

6. FIBULAR COLLATERAL
LIGAMENT:
It is a tough cord like structure also known
as the lateral collateral ligament.
Attachments:
-Superiorly attached to lateral femoral
epicondyle
-Inferiorly it is attached to lateral surface
of the fibular head.

7. TIBIAL COLLATERAL LIGAMENT:
It is a broad and flat structure, also known
as medial collateral ligament.
Attachments:
-Superiorly it is attached to the medial
femoral epicondyle.
-Inferiorly it is attached to medial surface
and medial margin of the tibia.

9. OBLIQUE POPLITEAL LIGAMENT
It is located on the posterior side of the knee
as a large ligamentous structure.
It prevents knee hyperextension and
excessive external rotation.
Attachment:
Originates from the tendon of
semimembranosus muscle, crosses the
popliteal fossa and inserts in the posterior
knee joint capsule.

11. ARCUATE POPLITEAL
LIGAMENT:
It is a Y shape ligament.
Attachment:
Originates from the posterior portion of
the head of fibula while has two insertions,
first blends with oblique popliteal ligament
and second insertion point is lateral head
of gastronemius muscle.

13. ANTERIOR CRUCIATE
LIGAMENT:
It is a cross shaped ligament.
Attachments:
-Attached to Intercondyler facet of the
tibia.
-Ends on intercondyler fossa of femur.

14. POSTERIOR CRUCIATE
LIGAMENT:
As the name indicates it is also a cross
shaped ligament.
Attachment:
-Attached on the posterior side of the tibial
intercondyler area.
-It gets inserted on the anterior side of
femoral intercondyler area.

16. MEDIAL MENISCUS
It is a semi circular band like structure,
made up of fibrocartilage.
Attachment:
Attached on the medial condyle of femur
Up to the medial condyle of tibia.

17. LATERAL MENISCUS
It is almost circular shaped structure.
Attachment:
Its anterior horn blends with the ACL
while its posterior end attaches behind
intercondyler eminence.

19. R.L.Drake, A.W.Vogl, A.W.M.Mitchell.
Gray’s anatomy for students.2
nd
international edition.
S.A.Shakeel, S.K.Bashir, M.H.Habib.
Essence: a review book of anatomy. 7
th
edition.
L.P.D’Amico Fam et al. 2013. oblique
popliteal ligament-an anatomical study.
RBO English edition. Vol 48