9.10B: Muscles that Cause Movement at the Knee Joint

Three sets of muscles (popliteus, quadriceps and hamstrings) allow for movement, balance, and stability at the knee joint.

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Key Terms

• hamstring group: A group of three muscles found in the posterior region of the thigh, responsible for flexing of the lower leg at the knee.
• quadriceps femoris: A group of four muscles found in the anterior region of the thigh, responsible for extension of the lower leg at the knee.
• popliteus: A muscles located behind the knee which &#;unlocks&#; the fully extended knee joint allowing for flexion.

The knee joint allows for movement of the lower leg relative to the thigh across the knee joint. The knee joint is in fact comprised of two joints: the tibiofemoral joint between the femur and tibia, which is the weight-bearing knee joint, and the patellofemoral joint, which joins the patella (kneecap) with the femur.

The tibiofemoral joint is relatively weak and easily damaged, so it relies on muscles and ligaments to ensure stability. When the knee is fully extended the femur rotates slightly on the tibia to lock the joint into place, allowing for efficient load bearing.

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The patella is the attachment point for the quadriceps femoris muscle and is the attached by a ligament to the tibia. This increases the leverage afforded to the quadriceps femoris muscle, thus increasing its efficiency when extending the lower leg. The patella additionally protects the knee joint from damage.

The patellofemoral has two key functions: increasing leverage of the quadriceps tendon to improve muscle stability and protecting the knee joint from damage.

Muscles that generate movement across the knee are mainly located in the thigh and can be split into anterior and posterior compartments. The popliteus muscle, located in the lower leg, is responsible for &#;unlocking&#; the knee joint after extension.

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