Biology 122                                                                                                      Spring, 2008

 

Laboratory  9

Popliteal fossa, Knee joint and Leg

 

OBJECTIVES

 

At the end of this laboratory you should:

 

1.   Be able to recognize the bony and soft tissue landmarks of the knee and leg.  The bony landmarks are the patella, the condyles of the tibia, the condyles and epicondyles of the femur, the tibial tuberosity the head of the fibula, and the lateral and medial malleoli.  Soft tissue structures include the patellar tendon, the fibular collateral ligament, the menisci, and vastus medialis.

 

2.   Understand the boundaries and contents of the popliteal fossa.

 

3.   Be able to describe and demonstrate the primary movements that occur at the knee, ankle, subtalar and toe joints. 

 

4.   Know the course and distribution of the tibial division of the sciatic nerve in the leg.  Know how the nerve enters the foot and divides into branches that are somewhat similar to the terminal parts of the median and ulnar nerves in the hand.

 

5.   Understand the structure and functional significance of the triceps surae muscles and the deep muscles of the calf that act on the foot and toes.

 

6.   Know the structure of the knee joint and especially the arrangement of the main ligaments (cruciates and collaterals), the forces that might tear them, and the instabilities that would result.  Be able to demonstrate the drawer signs associated with ligamentous tears.

 

7.   Understand the arrangement and function of the muscles in the anterior and lateral compartments of the leg.

 

8.   Know the innervation of the muscles of the anterior and lateral compartments of the leg.  Give special attention to the distribution of the common peroneal nerve and its branches in the leg and foot and the signs and symptoms of lesions involving this nerve and its branches.

 

9.   Be able to outline the course and distribution of the anterior tibial artery and its main branches throughout the leg.

 

PRELAB PREPARATION

 

Read those portions of your textbook that deal with the knee and the anterior, lateral and posterior compartment of the leg (pp. 632-658, 684-701). Learn the bones of the ankle.