Articularis Genu Muscle

Original Editor - Seba Mamdouh

Top Contributors - Seba Mamdouh and Kim Jackson

Description[edit | edit source]

GOOGLE IMAGES
anatomy for articularis genu muscle

Articularis genu it is a very small muscle considered as a fifth head of Quadriceps muscle that lie deep vastus intermedius muscle and founded that it has an important mechanical role during knee movement.

Origin[edit | edit source]

Distal femur deep to vastus intermedius.[1]

Insertion[edit | edit source]

Suprapatellar bursa and the joint capsule.

Nerve[edit | edit source]

Medial deep division of femoral nerve (L2-L4).[1]

Artery[edit | edit source]

Lateral femoral circumflex artery.[1]

Function[edit | edit source]

  1. During extension it pulls the synovial membrane of the knee joint superiorly.
  2. Prevent synovial membrane impingement between femur and patella.
  3. Supports the patella and assists to stabilise the knee joint.
  4. Assists in the lubrication of the knee joint

Clinical relevance[edit | edit source]

The muscle plays a crucial role in both knee flexion and extension. When the knee is extended, it pulls the suprapatellar bursa upward to prevent impingement between the femur and tibia. Failure of this muscle to function properly can result in a painful condition known as suprapatellar bursitis, which occurs during knee movement. Bursitis refers to inflammation or swelling of the bursa.[2][3]

Assessment[edit | edit source]

[1]knee injection

Acute Bursitis may be due to trauma,infection and crystalloin joint disease and this patient present with erythema,warmth and tenderness with palpation and may affect ROM secondary to discomfort.On the other hand chronic bursitis occured due to diabetes or chronic steroid use and may be repetetive load from hobby or occupation ,chronic bursitis is often painless[2],Imaging may be useful adjacent history and physical examination like X-ray important in acute cases produced from fracture ,US used to differantiate between inflamed bursa and cellulitis and MRI used for differantial diagnosis.

Treatment[edit | edit source]

Bursitis may be treated conservatively using(ice,rest,activity modification,NSAIDs and aspiration)most cases respond to this treatment especially acute cases[2].on the other hand chronic cases benefit from corticosteroids injection.If conservative treatment failed it is recommended to use incision and drainage that recommended in traumatic and septic cases [4]

Resources[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Grob K, Gilbey H, Manestar M, Ackland T, Kuster MS. The anatomy of the articularis genus muscle and its relation to the extensor apparatus of the knee. JBJS Open Access. 2017 Dec 12;2(4). BibTeXEndNoteRefManRefWorks
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Rishor-Olney CR, Pozun A. Prepatellar Bursitis. InStatPearls [Internet] 2022 Mar 3. StatPearls Publishing. BibTeXEndNoteRefManRefWorks
  3. Williams CH, Jamal Z, Sternard BT. StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing; Treasure Island (FL): Jul 24, 2022. Bursitis. [PubMed]
  4. Lormeau C, Cormier G, Sigaux J, Arvieux C, Semerano L. Management of septic bursitis. Joint Bone Spine. 2019 Oct;86(5):583-588. [PubMed]

1-Grob K, Gilbey H, Manestar M, Ackland T, Kuster MS. The anatomy of the articularis genus muscle and its relation to the extensor apparatus of the knee. JBJS Open Access. 2017 Dec 12;2(4).↵↵BibTeXEndNoteRefManRefWorks

2-Rishor-Olney CR, Pozun A. Prepatellar Bursitis. InStatPearls [Internet] 2022 Mar 3. StatPearls Publishing.

3-Williams CH, Jamal Z, Sternard BT. StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing; Treasure Island (FL): Jul 24, 2022. Bursitis. [PubMed]

4-Stell IM. Management of acute bursitis: outcome study of a structured approach. J R Soc Med. 1999 Oct;92(10):516-21. [PMC free article] [PubMed]

5-Lormeau C, Cormier G, Sigaux J, Arvieux C, Semerano L. Management of septic bursitis. Joint Bone Spine. 2019 Oct;86(5):583-588. [PubMed]