Imaging of the medial and lateral ligaments of the knee.
The knee is an inherently unstable structure consisting of rounded femoral condyles articulating with a flat tibial plateau. Stability is provided by a complex system of intra-articular and extraarticular ligaments that resist anterior and posterior translation, abnormal tibial rotation, and varus and valgus stress. In this article, the anatomy and biomechanics of the medial and lateral stabilizers, as well as the mechanisms of injury, clinical examination, and radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging appearances of injury of these structures, are discussed.
Miller
Theodore T
TT
Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA. millertt@hss.edu
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D017885:Collateral Ligaments / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D017888:Medial Collateral Ligament, Knee / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography