Stifle Joint

The stifle joint is composite joint composed of-

1. Femoro-patellar articulation
2. Femoro-tibial articulation

Femoro-Patellar joint

Ox

The femoro-patellar joint isgliding joint where the patella glides over the trochlea of the femur.

• Ligaments
  1. The capsular ligament is loose. It forms a pouch under the insertion of the quadriceps muscle. 
  2. The medial and lateralligaments which arise from corresponding faces of the condyles of the femur to the lateral and medial angles of the patella.
  3. The straight ligaments of the patella are lateral, middle and medial, which extend from the patella and its fibrocartilage to the anterior tuberosity of the tibia.
  4. Bursae of the patellar ligaments are two. One is interposed between the middle ligament and the upper part of the trochlea; a smaller one occurs between the upper part of the same ligament and the apex of the patella.The second is interposed between the lateral patellar ligament and the lateral condyle of the femur.
• Motion
  1. The patella moves up and down the trochlea of femur.

Horse

• No difference.

Dog

• There is only one straight ligament.

Femoro-Tribial joint

Ox

The femoro-tibial joint is a ginglymus formed between the condyles of the femur and those of the tibia.

• Ligaments
  1. The joint has a capsular ligament, two inter-articular cartilages called menisci, two collateral ligaments, two crucial ligaments and a posterior ligament.
  2. The capsular ligament is attached to the margins of articular surfaces of femur and tibia and also to the convex borders of the menisci and to the cruciate ligaments. There are two synovial sacs, partially divided by the menisci into upper and lower compartments. The two synovial sacs communicate with each other and the medial sac also communicates with femoro patellar joint.
  3. The menisci (inter-articular cartilages) are medial and lateral.
     • They are ‘C’ shaped plates of fibro-cartilage interposed between the condyles of the femur and tibia.
     • The lateral borders are thick and convex while their medial borders are thin and concave.
     • The proximal faces are hollowed out for the condyles of the femur and the distal faces are flattened for the condyles of the tibia. These cartilages bring about congruence of the articular surfaces and are kept in position by ligaments called coronary ligaments.
     • The lateral meniscus has three coronary ligaments one anterior and two posterior, of which one is superior attached to a depression on the medial aspect of inter-condyloid fossa of femur and other inferior attached to the tibia, lateral to the popliteal notch.
     • The medial meniscus has two coronary ligaments one anterior and one posterior. These are attached to the depression in front and behind the tibial spine.
  4. The collateral ligaments arise from the corresponding condyles of the femur. The lateral ligament is attached to the fibula and the medial is to the medial condyle of the tibia. 
  5. The posterior ligaments are membranous, enclose the joint behind.
  6. The cruciate ligaments are anterior and posterior. The anterior arises from the tibial spine, extends upwards and backwards and ends on the lateral part to the inter-condyloid fossa of femur. The posterior is attached below the tubercle medial to the popliteal notch, directed upwards and forwards and is attached to the anterior part of the inter-condyloid fossa of femur.
• Motion
  1. Extension and flexion.

Horse & Dog

• No difference.