title: Complex function of the knee joint: the current understanding of the knee.
abstract: Since the early years of orthopaedics, it is a well-known fact that anatomy follows function. During the evolution of mankind, the knee has been optimally adapted to the forces and loads acting at and through the knee joint. However, anatomy of the knee joint is variable and the only constant is its complex function. In contrast to the time of open surgery, nowadays the majority of reconstructive knee surgery is done arthroscopically. Keyhole surgery is less invasive, but on the backside, the knee surgeon lacks daily visualisation of the complex open anatomy. As open anatomical knowledge is less present in our daily practice, it is even more important to highlight this complex anatomy and function of the knee. It is the purpose of this review to perform a systematic review of knee anatomy, highlight the complex function of the knee joint and present an overview about recent and current knowledge about knee function. Level of evidence Systematic review, Level IV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Kantonsspital Baselland (Bruderholz, Liestal, Laufen), 4101, Bruderholz, Switzerland. Michael.Hirschmann@unibas.ch.
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Hirschmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Kantonsspital Baselland (Bruderholz, Liestal, Laufen), 4101, Bruderholz, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000502:physiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000502:physiology; D016119:Posterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000502:physiology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012399:Rotation
keywords: ACL; ALL; Anatomy; Collaterals; Function; Iliotibial tract; Knee; LCL; MCL; PCL; Popliteus