ISSN:
1439-0264
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
In elephants, the limb posture in general and the angle of the knee joint in particular differs to those of most mammals. Although previous studies on the osteology of elephants are available, knowledge of the structure of their joints is sparse. The aim of this study was to provide an anatomical description of the African elephant's knee joint. Hindlimbs of six juvenile individuals of Loxodonta africana were dissected at the Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Pretoria (Onderstepoort, South Africa). All animals had lived in the Kruger National Park and were shot due to the regular culling program during the 1990s. The tight joint capsule encloses both the articulatio femorotibialis and the articulatio femoropatellaris. The articular surfaces of the tibial and femoral condyli show a high grade of congruency. The meniscuslateralis and especially the meniscusmedialis are very narrow merely resembling folds of the joint capsule. A ligamentum meniscofemorale is present. The Ligamentum cruciatum craniale attaches to the caudomedial surface of the condyluslateralisfemoris, passes the proximally flattened surface of the eminentiaintercondylaris tibiae and inserts on a craniolateral impression of this eminentia. The ligamentumcruciatumcaudale courses far caudally from the lateral surface of the condylusmedialisfemoris to the area intercondylariscaudalis. The tendon of origin of the m. popliteus passes caudoproximally over the meniscus lateralis and a recess of the joint capsule lies between this muscle and the condylus lateralis tibiae or the caput fibulae respectively. The ligamentumcollateralemediale and the smaller laterale are embedded within the thick fascial layers surrounding the knee. Retinacula patellae are not discernible. The ligamentum patellae attaches to the tuberositas tibiae and the distal tendon of the m. rectus femoris lies cranial to this ligament. It is likely that the structural peculiarities of the elephant's knee stand in close relationship with limb posture and weight bearing.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0264.2005.00669_129.x
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