Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Anatomy and Biomechanics of the Posterolateral Aspect of the Knee

  • Chapter
Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries

Abstract

Because of the developmental phylogeny that has occurred owing to the initial articulation of the fibula with the femur and its eventual descent over time to articulate with the tibia, the anatomy of the posterolateral aspect of the knee is more complex than the medial side. In addition, in lower species, there is a meniscus between the articulation of the femur and the fibular head. It has been speculated that this meniscus may have eventually evolved into the popliteus attachment to the fibular styloid (popliteofibular ligament) or the popliteus tendon. In addition, the popliteus complex and the biceps femoris complex in lower species are noted to have attachments around the knee that are different from those found in humans. These anatomic differences have made the posterolateral aspect of the knee more complex and less thoroughly studied than the medial aspect of the knee in terms of both its anatomy and biomechanics.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Stäubli HU, Birrer S. The popliteus tendon and its fascicles at the popliteus hiatus: gross anatomy and functional evaluation with and without ACL deficiency. Arthroscopy 1990;6:209–220.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Stäubli HU, Rauschning W. Popliteus tendon and lateral meniscus. Gross and multiplanar cryosectional anatomy of the knee. Am J Knee Surg 1991;4:110–121.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Terry GC, Hughston JC, Norwood LA. The anatomy of the iliopatellar band and iliotibial tract. Am J Sports Med 1986;14:39–45.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Terry GC, LaPrade RE The biceps femoris complex at the knee: its anatomy and injury patterns associated with acute ALRI-AMRI. Am J Sports Med 1996;24:2–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Terry GC, LaPrade RE The posterolateral aspect of the knee: anatomy and surgical approach. Am J Sports Med 1996;24:732–739.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Veltri DM, Deng X-H, Torzilli PA, et al. The role of the popliteofibular ligament in stability of the human knee: a biomechanical study. Am J Sports Med 1996;24:19–27.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Sutton JB. The nature of certain ligaments. J Anat Physio 1884;18:225–238.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Last RJ. Some anatomical details of the knee joint. J Bone Joint Surg 1948;30B: 683–688.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Sneath RS. The insertion of the biceps femoris. J Anat 1955;89:550–553.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Kaplan EB. Surgical approach to the lateral (peroneal) side of the knee joint. Surg Gynecol Obstet 1957;104:346–356.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Kaplan EB. The iliotibial tract. Clinical and morphological significance. J Bone Joint Surg 1958;40A:817–832.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Kaplan EB. The fabellofibular and short lateral ligaments of the knee joint. J Bone Joint Surg 1961;43A:169–179.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Kaplan EB. Some aspects of functional anatomy of the human knee joint. Clin Orthop Rel Res 1962;23:18–29.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Marshall JL, Girgis FG, Zelko RR. The biceps femoris tendon and its functional significance. J Bone Joint Surg 1972;54A:1444–1450.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Reis FP, Ferraz de Carvalho CA. Anatomical study on the proximal muscle. Rev Bras Pesq Med Biol 1975;8:373–380.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Cohn AK, Mains DB. Popliteal hiatus of the lateral meniscus. Am J Sports Med 1979;7:221–226.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Fabbriciani C, Oransky M, Zoppi U. Il musculo popliteo; studio anatomico. Arch Ital Anat 1982;87:203–217.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Seebacher JR, Inglis AE, Marshall JL, et al. The structure of the posterolateral aspect of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg 1982;64A:536–541.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Lobenhoffer P, Posel P, Witt S, et al. Distal femoral fixation of the iliotibial tract. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 1987;106:285–290.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Oransky M, Canero G, Maiotti M. Embryonic development of the posterolateral structures of the knee. Anat Rec 1989;225:347–354.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Watanabe Y, Moriya H, Takahashi K, et al. Functional anatomy of the posterolateral structures of the knee. Arthroscopy 1993;9:57–62.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. LaPrade RF, Hamilton CD, Engebretsen L. Treatment of acute and chronic combined ACL and posterolateral knee ligament injuries. Sports Med Arthrosc Rev 1997;5:91–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. LaPrade RF, Hamilton CD. The anatomy of the fibular collateral ligamentbiceps femoris bursa. An anatomic study. Am J Sports Med 1997;25:439–443.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Hughston JC, Andrews JR, Cross MJ, et al. Classification of knee ligament instabilities. Part II. The lateral compartment. J Bone Joint Surg 1976;58A: 173–179.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. LaPrade RF. Arthroscopic evaluation of the lateral compartment of knees with grade 3 posterolateral knee complex injuries. Am J Sports Med 1997;25:596–602.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Segond P. Recherches Cliniques et Experimentales sur les Epanchemants Sanguins du Genou oar Entorse. Progres Med (Paris) 1879;7:1–84.

    Google Scholar 

  27. LaPrade RF, Resig S, Wentorf FA, et al. The effects of grade III posterolateral knee complex injuries on force in an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction graft: a biomechanical analysis. Am J Sports Med 1999;27:469–475.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Gollehon DL, Torzilli PA, Warren RF. The role of the posterolateral and cruciate ligament in the stability of the human knee. J Bone Joint Surg 1987;69A: 233–242.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Grood ES, Stowers SF, Noyes FR. Limits of movement in the human knee. Effect of sectioning the posterior cruciate ligament and posterolateral structures. J Bone Joint Surg 1988;70A:88–97.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Markoff, KL, Burchfield DM, Shapiro MM, Cha CW, Finerman GA, Slauterbeck JL. Biomechanical consequences of replacement of the anterior cruciate ligament with a patellar ligament allograft. Part II: forces in the graft compared with forces in the intact ligament. J Bone Joint Surg 1996;78A:1728–1734.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Brantigan OC, Voshell AE The mechanics of the ligaments and menisci of the knee joint. J Bone Joint Surg 1941;23A:44–66.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Fukubayashi T, Torzilli PA, Sherman MF, et al. An in vitro biomechanical evaluation of anterior-posterior motion of the knee: tibial displacement, rotation, and torque. J Bone Joint Surg 1982;64A:258–264.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Noyes FR, Stowers SF, Grood ES, et al. Posterior subluxations of the medial and lateral tibiofemoral compartments. Am J Sports Med 1993;21:407–414.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Veltri DM, Deng X-H, Torzilli PA, et al. The role of the cruciate and posterolateral ligaments in stability of the knee. Am J Sports Med 1995;23:436–443.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Simonian PT, Sussman PS, van Trommel M, et al. Popliteomeniscal fasciculi and lateral meniscal stability. Am J Sports Med 1997;25:849–853.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. LaPrade RF, Terry GC. Injuries to the posterolateral aspect of the knee: association of anatomic injury patterns with clinical instability. Am J Sports Med 1997;25:433–438.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. LaPrade RF, Hamilton CD, Wentorf F, et al. The measurement of elongation in specific posterolateral knee structures during clinical limits-of-motion testing. Paper presented at the International Arthroscopy Association/International Society of the Knee Meeting, Buenos Aires, May, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Robert F. LaPrade
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Timothy S. Bollom
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sports Injury Clinic and Arthroscopic Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Geisinger Medical Center, 17822-2130, Danville, Pennsylvania, USA

    Gregory C. Fanelli MD (Chief) (Chief)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2001 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

LaPrade, R.F., Bollom, T.S. (2001). Anatomy and Biomechanics of the Posterolateral Aspect of the Knee. In: Fanelli, G.C. (eds) Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-21601-0_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-21601-0_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-6216-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-21601-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation