Glossary of Knee Terms
A
Anatomical Axis – Line drawn from the center of the knee through the middle of the femur to the top of the femoral canal
Anterior – Toward the front
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) – One of the major structural ligaments of the knee providing anteroposterior (front to back) stability
Arthritis – Inflammation of the joint due to infectious, metabolic, constitutional or behavioral causes
Arthroplasty – The surgical repair of a diseased joint
Articulation – The act of motion between two or more bones within a single joint
B
Bilateral – Pertaining or involving both sides; bilateral knees = left and right knees
Biomechanics – The study of the action of external and internal forces on the living body
C
Cancellous – The softer, spongy inner matrix of bone
Capsule – Soft tissue envelope which surrounds a joint
Cartilage – A tough, rubbery supportive tissue found on the ends of bones and serving the purpose of reducing friction during movement
Condyle – A rounded prominence at the end of a bone, most often for articulation with another bone
Cortex – The outer layer
Cortical – The harder outer layer of bone
Crepitus – A creaking, squeaking or grinding sound emanating from a joint, most notable the knee joint, upon slowly flexing and extending the joint
D
Distal – Farthest from the point of origin
E
Epicondyle – A bony prominence on the condyles serving as a place for attachment for ligaments, tendons and muscles
Extension – The act of straightening a limb
External – One the outside or surface
F
Femur – The thigh bone, which is the largest and strongest bone in the body
Flexion – The act of bending a limb
Flexion Contracture – Soft tissue tightening resulting in loss of motion in the joint
G
H
I
Inferior – Lower in place or position, situated beneath another, or toward the feet
Internal – Movement toward the inside or midline of the body
J
K
Kinematics – The study of motion of the body
L
Lateral – Away from the median or midline of the body; toward the side
Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) – The ligament found on the outer side of the knee
M
Mechanical Axis – Line drawn from the center of the femoral head, thorugh the center of the knee, to the center of the ankle
Medial – The middle, or toward the middle
Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) – The ligament found on the inner side of the knee and spanning the joint
Median – The midline of the body
Medullary Canal – The tubular, hollow area within long bones around which marrow is located; also called the intramedullary canal
Meniscus – Crescent shaped cartilage in the knee that acts as a cushion between bones
N
O
Osteoarthritis – A form of arthritis caused by chronic degeneration of the cartilage of the joint
Osteochondrosis – A deterioration or inflammation of the bone/cartilage surface
Osteophyte – Bony projections that form along joints
P
Patella – The kneecap, which is a thick circular-triangular bone that articulates with the femur and covers and protects the anterior articular surface of the knee joint
Patellofemoral Tendon – The tendon at the distal end of the quadriceps muscle group, containing the patella, and which inserts into the tibial tuberosity
Periosteum – A membrane that lines the outer surface of all bones except at the joint and serves as attachment for muscles and tendons
Posterior – Situated behind another structure; the back side
Proximal – Nearest to the point of origin or attachment
Q
Quadriceps – The large four-part extensor muscle at the front of the femur, comprised of the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, and the vastus medialis
R
Rotation – The act of turning a body part around a centrally located axis
S
Sagittal – Referring to the median vertical plane of the body
Sterile – Devoid of living organisms
Subluxation – A partial or incomplete dislocation of the joint
Superior – Above, higher
T
Tendon – A specialized connective tissue which joints muscles to bone
Tibia – The larger, heavier bone of the lower leg; shin bone
Tibial Plateau – The top or proximal portion of the tibia on which the femoral condyles articulate
Tibial Tuberosity – A bony prominence on the proximal anterior portion of the tibia which serves as the insertion of the patellofemoral tendon for the quadriceps
Tubercle – A small, rounded eminence of bone for attachment of tendons
Tuberosity – A broad, rounded eminence of bone where muscles attach
U
V
Valgus – “knock knee”
Varus – “bow legged”