Deck 12: Structure and Function of the Knee

Question 1

Which of the following ligaments counters a valgus force in the frontal plane at the knee joint?

A)Lateral collateral ligament
B)Anterior cruciate ligament
C)Medial collateral ligament
D)Posterior cruciate ligament

Answer 1

Medial collateral ligament

Question 2

Which of the following ligaments counters a varus force in the frontal plane at the knee joint?

A)Lateral collateral ligament
B)Anterior cruciate ligament
C)Medial collateral ligament
D)Posterior cruciate ligament

Answer 2

Lateral collateral ligament

Question 3

What are the arthrokinematics at the knee joint during the motion of moving from sitting to standing?

A)Femoral condyles roll anteriorly, slide posteriorly
B)Tibia rolls and slides anteriorly
C)Femoral condyles roll posteriorly, slide anteriorly
D)Tibia rolls and slides posteriorly

Answer 3

Femoral condyles roll anteriorly, slide posteriorly

Question 4

Which of the following statements BEST describes the function of the patella at the knee?

A)Increases moment arm of quadriceps muscles, most effectively from 60° to 30° extension
B)Increases weight-bearing surface of the knee joint
C)Increases moment arm of quadriceps muscles, most effectively at terminal knee extension
D)Sesamoid bone that has little specific function

Question 5

Which of the following angles between the femur and the tibia at the lateral aspect denotes excessive genu valgus?

A)180°
B)170°-175°
C)<165°-170°
D)>180°

Question 6

Which of the following knee postures is depicted in the image?

A)Valgus
B)Recurvatum
C)Varus
D)Torsion

Question 7

Which of the following functional activities requires the LEAST amount of knee flexion range of motion?

A)Ascending stairs
B)Walking on level surfaces
C)Descending stairs
D)Moving from sitting to standing

Question 8

In which of the following positions is the patella in maximal contact with the intercondylar femoral groove?

A)Between 90° and 60° of flexion
B)Terminal flexion
C)Last 20°-30° of extension
D)Terminal extension

Question 9

Which of the following factors is MOST LIKELY to result in excessive lateral tracking of the patella?

A)Increased medial longitudinal foot arches
B)Shortened pes anserine tendons and medial patellar retinaculum, lax collateral ligaments
C)Deep intercondylar groove
D)Shortened iliotibial band and lateral patellar retinaculum, lax medial collateral ligament

Question 10

In which direction does the knee meniscus move during lateral rotation at the knee?

A)Bilateral menisci move anteriorly
B)Lateral meniscus moves anteriorly, medial meniscus moves posteriorly
C)Bilateral menisci move posteriorly
D)Medial meniscus moves anteriorly, lateral meniscus moves posteriorly

Question 11

Which of the following angles between the femur and the tibia at the lateral aspect denotes excessive genu varum?

A)180°
B)170°-175°
C)<165-170°
D)>180°

Question 12

Which of the following definitions BEST describes the Q angle at the knee?

A)Angle formed by tibial tuberosity and midpoint of patella, typically 13°-15°
B)Angle formed by anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) and midpoint of patella, typically 13°-15°
C)Angle formed by tibial tuberosity and midpoint of patella, typically 20°-25°
D)Angle formed by ASIS and midpoint of patella, typically 20°-25°

Question 13

What is the screw-home mechanism that occurs at the knee when moving from sitting to standing?

A)Femur laterally rotates
B)Tibia laterally rotates
C)Femur medially rotates
D)Tibia medially rotates

Question 14

Which of the following ligaments counters excessive anterior slide of the tibia on the femur during open-chain terminal knee extension?

A)Lateral collateral ligament
B)Anterior cruciate ligament
C)Medial collateral ligament
D)Posterior cruciate ligament

Question 15

Which of the following muscles comprise the pes anserinus tendons?

A)Semimembranosus, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris
B)Gracilis, vastus medialis, semitendinosus
C)Sartorius, adductor magnus, semimembranosus
D)Sartorius, gracilis, and semitendinosus

Question 16

In which of the following positions is the greatest amount of axial rotation of the knee?

A)30° of knee flexion
B)Terminal extension
C)90° of knee flexion
D)Hyperextension

Question 17

Which of the following ligaments counters excessive posterior slide of the tibia on the femur during open-chain terminal knee flexion?

A)Lateral collateral ligament
B)Anterior cruciate ligament
C)Medial collateral ligament
D)Posterior cruciate ligament

Question 18

What is the screw-home mechanism that occurs as the knee begins open-chain flexion?

A)Femur laterally rotates
B)Tibia laterally rotates
C)Femur medially rotates
D)Tibia medially rotates

Question 19

Which of the following results is MOST LIKELY to occur in the knee joint following surgical removal of the knee joint menisci?

A)Decreased joint surface compression loads
B)Increased nourishment of articular cartilage
C)Decreased joint friction
D)Increased gliding of femoral surface on tibia

Question 20

What is the screw-home mechanism that occurs during the last 20°-30° of open-chain knee extension?

A)Femur laterally rotates
B)Tibia laterally rotates
C)Femur medially rotates
D)Tibia medially rotates

Question 21

Which of the muscles' tendons becomes prominent with resisted knee flexion at the medial tibial condyle?

A)Biceps femoris
B)Semimembranosus
C)Popliteus
D)Semitendinosus

Question 22

Which statement BEST compares the knee extensor muscle group with the flexor muscle group?

A)Flexors able to produce two thirds greater force than extensors
B)Able to generate equal amounts of maximal force
C)Extensors able to produce two thirds greater force than flexors
D)Able to generate comparable force depending on patellar position

Question 23

Which of the following movements does the biceps femoris muscle produce?

A)Hip extension, knee flexion
B)Knee flexion, hip extension, lateral axial rotation
C)Hip and knee flexion
D)Knee flexion, hip extension, medial axial rotation

Question 24

Which of the following positions would provide the MOST EFFECTIVE stretch of the hamstring muscles?

A)Knee extension, hip neutral
B)Hip flexion, knee extension
C)Knee flexion, hip neutral
D)Hip extension, knee flexion

Question 25

In which of the following positions does the rectus femoris muscle become passively insufficient at end ranges?

A)Knee flexion with hip flexion
B)Knee extension with hip flexion
C)Knee extension with hip extension
D)Knee flexion with hip extension

Question 26

Which of the following positions BEST stretches the rectus femoris muscle?

A)Hip and knee flexion
B)Hip extension and knee flexion
C)Hip flexion and knee extension
D)Hip and knee extension

Question 27

In which of the following positions do the hamstring muscles become passively insufficient at end ranges?

A)Knee flexion with hip flexion
B)Knee extension with hip flexion
C)Knee extension with hip extension
D)Knee flexion with hip extension

Question 28

In which of the following positions do the hamstring muscles become actively insufficient at end ranges?

A)Knee flexion with hip flexion
B)Knee extension with hip flexion
C)Knee extension with hip extension
D)Knee flexion with hip extension

Question 29

Which of the following statements is MOST CORRECT about the vastus muscle group?

A)Vastus muscles produce 80% of the total extension torque
B)Vastus medialis oblique produces the major portion of total extension torque
C)Vastus muscles produce 20% of the total extension torque
D)Produce hip flexion and knee extension

Question 30

What is the function of the popliteus muscle when moving from a standing to a sitting position?

A)Medially rotates tibia on femur
B)Laterally rotates femur on tibia
C)Laterally rotates tibia on femur
D)Medially rotates femur on tibia

Question 31

What muscles are activated at the knee when moving from a standing to a sitting position?

A)Eccentric contraction of quadriceps
B)Eccentric contraction of hamstrings
C)Concentric contraction of quadriceps
D)Concentric contraction of hamstrings

Question 32

Which of the following bony landmarks is used to palpate the attachments of the bicep femoris muscle?

A)Ischial tuberosity, medial aspect of tibia
B)Posterior inferior iliac spine, fibular head
C)Ischial tuberosity, fibular head, lateral tibial condyle
D)Posterior superior iliac spine, lateral tibial condyle