knee-jerk

(né’jérk), n. A sudden jerking of the knee, caused by a contraction of the quadriceps 2. femoris, evoked by a blow on the patellar tentents don or in any way that gives the quadriceps a ing sudden tug. Also called patellar tendon reflex the and knee-kick. that made All the methods by ->/ kneent, which the kneejerk kneepan may be obtained are merely different ways knee-piece of giving the quadri- —2. ceps muscle a twitch to by bringing a sudden —8. strain up on its tendon, Amer. Jour. i ares 7 cover (1. the knee-joint 4. joint), m. 1. (a) NM knee-pine The joint at the Human Knee-joint. European knee; the joint 1. Right knee-joint laid open from the milio), between the thigh front, cartilaginous to show surface the internal of lower ligaments: extremity a, knee-plate and the lower leg; of the femur, with its two condyles; 4, pliance anterior crucial ligament; c, posterior the articulation do.; @, internal semilunar cartilage; e, teenth of the femur with external cartilage; / part of the lig a plate ment of the patella turned down; yg, syeither or both of novial bursa laid open beneath the ligaon ment of the patella. 2. Longitudinal sec the bones of the the tion of the left knee-joint: a, cancellous leg, the tibia and structure of lower part of femur; 6, ten- 2. don of extensor muscles of leg; c, patelfibula. In man the la; d@, ligament of the patella; e, cancel sixteenth knee-joint is formed lous structure of head of tibia; 4 anteknee-rafter by the articulation of rior crucial ligament; g, posterior ligament; /, ma of fat projecting into the end the large external and cavity of the joint below the patella; z, that internal condyles of ursa. the femur with the ealled broad flattened top of the tibia (the fibula being excluded), covered in front by the kneepan or patella, a large sesahouse. moid bone in the tendon of the extensor muscles. It is a ginglymus or hinge-joint, permitting complete flexion, knee-roof knee-roof extension to a right line, and admitting in some of slight rotatory movement. As far as the bones concerned, the knee-joint is one of the most open and articulations in the body; but it is very strongly by its ligaments and tendons. These are, on the of the joint, a general capsular investment, part hick and strong behind, where it is known as posterior ligament of Winslow, a structure prevent extension beyond a right line; the patellar ligament, in which the kneepan is situated, and which is the tendon of the muscles in front of the thigh, into the tibia; the internal lateral ligament, covering the tendon of the semi-membranosus and two external lateral ligaments, pa ing to head of the fibula. Inside the joint are a pair of cru ligaments, cro ed like the letter X, rem. from femoral inter condylar notch to the head of the tibia. nearly flat head of the tibia supports a pair, inner and of semilunar inter articular fibrocartilages. These to deepen the depre ions which receive the very condyles of the femur. These cartilages are inter by an anterior transverse ligament, and united the inner surface of the capsular ligament by two coroligaments. The most extensive synovial membrane the body is found in the knee-joint. Its proce es, asalar and mucous ligaments, are not ligaments in sense. There are several separate synovial burs the joint; it contains a quantity of fat beneath the ligament, and is supplied by appropriate arteries, nerves, and lymphatics. (b) Some joint likened or mistaken for a knee: as, (1) the carpal arof the fore leg of various animals, as horse; (2) the tarsal articulation of a bird’s the heel.—2, In mach., same as toggle a (né’join’ted), a. Same ask need, 3. (né’kik), n. Same as knee-jerk. (nél), v..; pret. and pp. knelt or kneeled, kneeling. [ knee stead