Morphometric Study of Intracapsular Ligaments of Knee Joint

Abstract

BACKGROUND

This study was conducted to evaluate the various intracapsular ligaments of the knee joint, their arrangement, and their attachments. We also wanted to do a morphometric analysis of anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament, anterior and posterior meniscofemoral ligaments and transverse ligament of the knee joint.

METHODS

The present study was conducted among 50 adult human cadavers (29 male and 21 female) presented to department of Anatomy, Rangaraya Medical College, Kakinada and department of Anatomy, Andhra Medical College, Vishakhapatnam which were allotted to undergraduate students for their routine dissection. Permission was obtained from ethics committee to conduct the present study.

RESULTS

The infra patellar synovial fold was present in only 57% of the knee joints. The mean length and width of the anterior cruciate ligament in males and females was 3.56cm-0.90cm and 3.45cm0.85cm respectively. The mean length and width of the posterior cruciate ligament in males and females were 3.57cm-1.03cm and 3.48cm-1.00cm respectively. The mean length and width of the anterior meniscofemoral ligament in males and females were 1.30cm-0.31cm and 1.21cm-0.29cm respectively. The mean length and width of the posterior meniscofemoral ligament in males and females were 2.87cm-0.31cm and 2.85cm-0.32cm respectively. The mean length and width of the transverse ligament in males and females were 3.41cm-0.27cm and 3.31cm-0.26cm respectively.

CONCLUSION

The posterior cruciate ligament is broader than the anterior cruciate ligament. The variations observed in the length and width of the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments in comparison to other studies may be due to racial differences.