Tuberosity of the tibia

Tuberosity of the tibia

Lateral aspect of right leg. (Tuberosity of tibia labeled at center right.)

Upper surface of right tibia. (Tuberosity labeled at top.)
Details
Identifiers
Latin tuberositas tibiae
TA A02.5.06.012
FMA 35463

Anatomical terms of bone

The tuberosity of the tibia or tibial tuberosity or tibial tubercle is a large oblong elevation on the proximal, anterior aspect of the tibia, just below where the anterior surfaces of the lateral and medial tibial condyles end.

Structure

It gives attachment to the patellar ligament, which attaches to the patella from where the suprapatellar ligament forms the distal tendon of the quadriceps femoris muscles. The quadriceps muscles consist of the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and vastus intermedius. These quadriceps muscles are innervated by the femoral nerve.[1] The tibial tuberosity thus forms the terminal part of the large structure that acts as a lever to extend the knee-joint and prevents the knee from collapsing when the foot strikes the ground.[1] The two ligaments, the patella, and the tibial tuberosity are all superficial, easily palpable structures.[2]

Fractures

Tibial tuberosity fractures are infrequent fractures, most common in adolescents. In running and jumping movements, extreme contraction of the knee extensors can result in avulsion fractures of the tuberosity apophysis.[3] A cast is all that is required if the fragment is not displaced from its normal position on the tibia. However, if the fracture fragment is displaced, then surgery is necessary to allow for normal function.[4]

See also

Tenderness in the tibial tuberosity can arise from Osgood-Schlatter’s syndrome or deep infrapatellar bursitis. A bony prominence on the tibial tuberosity can be the result of ongoing Osgood-Schlatter’s irritation in an adolescent with open growth plates, or what remains of Osgood-Schlatter’s in adults.[5]

Additional images

Notes

  1. 1 2 , KneeHipPain (1998)
  2. Cipriano (2002), p 356
  3. Lau & Ramachandran (2006)
  4. , Arthroscopy
  5. , Knee Exam.

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/10/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.