The Knee Joint Paper Essay Example for Free

The genu critical point colligation Joint Paper EssayOf the joints in the human body, the genu joint joint is the or so susceptible to injuries. Because this joint carries much of the body weight, and beside the fact that it was designed to do much of the human activities, the human knee joint accounts for the most common joint injuries. Its cardinal primary motions atomic number 18 flexion and extension, and a little rotational and squint motion. It is also because of this design that the knee is so vulnerable to injury. (M. Mullin and K. Stone)The knee has basically five major part the rises, the muscles, ligaments, gristle and tendons. It is the function of the bone to support the knee and give the joint a rigid structure. on that point are four bones that make up the knee first, the femur, which is also referred to as the thighbone or the upper leg bone. (University of Utah, Heath Sciences Center, 2003) This erect bone is given by the ligaments and a capsule to some other bone the tibia. Tibia is the larger bone of the knee which is called the shin bone. Parallel to the tibia is another bone called the fibula located below the tibia. The knee cap or the patella is another bone that consists the knee which rides on the joint as the knee bends. (Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, 1999) It is the function of the muscles to move the joint. The knee joint consists of two kinds of muscles the quadriceps and the hamstrings. The quadriceps muscles straighten the legs, and are situated at the front of the thighs. The hamstring muscles, which are located at the game of the thighs, are the ones bending the legs at the knee. All groups of muscles are connected to the knee bones by thick fibrous cords called the tendons. (Mayo Clinic, 2006) Patellar tendons connect the quadriceps muscles to the tibia, which are the ones prone to knee joint problems called, tendonitis. The bones of the knee are connected by ligaments, which functions are b asically to energize and hold the joint together. These elastic meanders also provide cherishion to the joint by limiting the regressive and forward movement of the knee. At the center of the joint are the cruciate ligaments called the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), which is attached to the depression in front of the tibia and passes upward, backward and lateral ward and fixed into the medial and back part of the lateral condoyle of the femur. (H. Gray, 1918)It is considered the key guide wire in the knee joint and is crucial for channelise the tibia in a dominion path a grand the end of the femur. (Mullin and Stone) The Posterior Cruciate ligaments (PCL) protect the joint by preventing the femur from sliding forward on the tibia, and the tibia from sliding backwards n the femur. The media Collateral ligament (MCL) provides protection to the upcountry part of the knee and the lateral Collateral ligament (CLC) on the outer part.The C-shaped tissue called the meniscus or the m enisci cartilage allows the bones to freely slide on each other. They serve as shock absorbers and bone protector. Around the knee joint are little fluid sacs called bursa. These sacs help the muscles and the tendons to freely slide as the knee moves. (Center for Orthopaedics) There are five medial bursas and four lateral bursas. The knee is prone to injuries and especially those who are engaged in activities that enable the knee to be overused. These people, most oftentimes athletes experience different kinds of pain in the knee joint as a result of injury, mental strain and wear of the joint. Common to athletes are the ligament injuries called sprain or the injury to the cruciate ligaments.This injury happens when the ACL is stretch or torn by sudden twisting motion, as when the feet are planted one modal value and the knees are turned another. (Healthlink 2005) Football players often experience a PCL injury during a football tackle. concussion sports like hockey and football c ause injury to the MCL and the CCL, where the said ligament is torn and stretch at the inner side of the knee due to a sudden blow to the outer side of the knee called a contact trauma. Tendonitis or the jumpers knee is caused by an overuse of the tendon. As the depot implies, this injury is experienced by athletes who are engaged in sports like basketball, which require jumping and foot race do a strain in the tendon. Dancers, cyclists, skiers and runners are as victims of this injury. With these activities, the tendon is stretched to the pint that it becomes like a worn-out rubber band and when this happens, it will swell. Muscle contraction happens after a jump or fall, and that repeated force causes strain to the tendons. What is worse is that such contraction, as when trying to break a fall, may tear the quadriceps muscles above and below the patella. Tendonitis causes a person to looking pain during travel rapidly and jumping or even when in a hurried walking. Bending, extending and lifting the leg will also be difficult. A pain arising between the patella and the femur is called Chondromalacia, which is characterized by the softening of the articular cartilage of the knee cap. (Mayo Clinic) With this injury, the knee cap rubs against the thigh bone which makes the cartilage rough. As a result, the person will feel pain in front of the knee when climbing the stairs or when sitting for a long period. This injury is common to skiers, soccer players and cyclists who, among other athletes are prone to having a blow in the knee cap resulting to a tear of the cartilage. Such contacts can also tear off a large fragment of the cartilage containing a piece of bone. Injury to the meniscus typically results from a twist or torque to the knee while the foot stays still. (Mullin and Stone) A tear in the meniscus may cause the joint to lock especially when there is a flap of the torn cartilage. When there is only a small tear, mild pain and moderate swelling o f the knee lasts up to 48 hours withal large lengthwise tear causes the joint to lock making hard for the person to straighten the knee. outdo runners are prone to Illiotibial Band Syndrome which happens when the ligament in the illiotibial band becomes tight enabling it to rub against the outer allot of the femur. Pains caused by this injury are felt when waking and when going up and down the stairs. excessively associated with running activities is the Osgood-Schatter Disease, where an inflammation of the patellar tendon is involved. This injury happens when the tendon is stretch too much causing it to tear away from the tibia and in some cases takes a bone fragment. A pain reasonable below the knee is experienced with this injury, and is however treated just with a rest. Having the fact that the knee joint is susceptible to many injuries, experts advice that a person must always maintain strong and flexible muscles. The cartilage and ligaments must always be kept smooth and strong. Good diet and proper exercise are always on the list of preventive measures. Lastly, let us remember that anything that goes below and beyond normal causes problems, not only to the knee, but the body as a wholeWORKS CITEDGray, Henry 1918. public figure of the Human Body Retrieved on February 22, 2007 from http//www.bartleby.com/107/93.htmMullin, Michael and Kevin Stone. Athletic Injuries of the genu and Shoulder Retrieved on February 22, 2007 from http//www.stoneclinic.com/injuries.htmThe Center for orthopeadics and Sports Medicine. Knee Joint-Anatomy and part Retrieved on February 22, 2007 from http//www.arthroscopy.com/sp05001.htmThe Mayo Clinic Staff. Knee Pain Retrieved on February 22, 2007 from http//www.mayoclinic.com/health/knee-pain/DS00555/DSECTIoN2The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and flake off Diseases. Knee Injuries and Problems Symptoms Diagnosis and Treatment May 01, 2001. Retrieved on February 22, 2007 from http//healthlink.mew.edu/a rticle/92605352.htmlUniversity of Utah Health Sciences Center Knee Pains and Problems November 2001. Retrieved on February 22, 2007 from http//uuhsc.utah.edu/healthinfo/adult/orthpaedics/kneepain.htm