Anterior region of knee

Regio anterior genus

  • Latin synonym: Regio genualis anterior
  • Synonym: Anterior knee region

Definition

The anterior region of knee is characterized by a quadriceps tendon that houses the largest sesamoid bone, the patella.

The quadriceps consists of four muscles: vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, and rectus femoris. These muscles originate from the femur and insert into the tibial tuberosity, producing knee joint extension. The rectus femoris also originates from the hip bone, allowing for hip joint flexion. The neurovasculature of the quadriceps is supplied by the femoral vessels and nerve. The femoral vessels are continuations of the external iliac vessels, while the femoral nerve is a branch of the lumbar plexus (L2, L3, L4).

Within the quadriceps tendon, the patella articulates with the lower end of the femoral shaft, forming the patellofemoral joint, where the patella glides up and down.

Several bursae surround the knee joint, located in areas of potential friction to prevent wear and tear:

  • The suprapatellar bursa communicates with the knee joint, situated between the quadriceps femoris muscle/tendon and the femur.

  • The prepatellar bursa does not communicate with the joint cavity and is located between the skin and the patella. Friction can lead to inflammation, causing swelling known as housemaid’s knee, commonly seen in individuals who work on their knees without knee pads, such as tilers.

  • The infrapatellar bursa, also not communicating with the joint cavity, is located between the skin and the tibia. Friction can result in inflammation, leading to swelling over the proximal tibia known as clergyman’s knee.

Text written by Muhammad A. Javaid, MD, PhD © 2023 IMAIOS.

  • Drake, R.L., Vogl, A.W. and Mitchell, A.W.M. (2009). ‘Chapter 6: Lower Limb’ in Gray’s anatomy for Students. (2nd ed.) Philadelphia PA 19103-2899: Elsevier, pp.575-585.


Comparative anatomy in animals

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