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The Posteromedial Corner: Semimembranosus Expansions

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Knee anatomy on MRI, posteromedial corner,

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focusing on the semimembranosus and its

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expansions. Semimembranosus is a large muscle.

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The semitendinosus rides along its posterior margin

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or back up more approximately.

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And as it comes down, it has

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a very deep component known as the direct arm.

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And this is the one you frequently

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see attaching to the tuberculum tendinous along

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the posteromedial aspect of the tibia.

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It'll bifurcate into two structures

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that one sees one anteriorly, not labeled here.

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It's underneath the POL and the deep

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portion of the superficial MCL, or superficial

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portion of the deep MCL. Also known

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as the tibial collateral ligament.

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And here is the anterior reflected arm underneath, called the pars reflexa.

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So you'll probably be able to see that.

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You'll also be able to see the

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distal continuation of the direct arm or

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deep arm, more distally along the posteromedial aspect of the tibia.

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More variable and often not seen on MRI

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is the inferior (popliteal arm), which goes in between these two.

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And then more posteriorly is the distal attachment of the inferior arm.

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This goes a long ways down, and because of that,

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it's sometimes more easily identifiable because of its distal extension.

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And then, supporting the posteromedial capsule of the knee,

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a little more in the front though,

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is the capsular arm.

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And then all the way in the back, becoming the oblique poploteal ligament,

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is the OPL extension of the semimembranosus.

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So the semimembranosus provides support

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to the entire posterior capsule running from posteromedial

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to posterolateral, along the back of the knee.

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It's a little hard to appreciate on

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this oblique projection, but you'll see what

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we mean on other vignettes.

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So those are the major expansion heads

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of the semimembranosus.

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As you can see, we've added an

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important division here, the pars reflexa, which runs

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anteriorly underneath the POL and the direct

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arm, which runs more oblique inferior

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and inserts on the tuberculum tenderness

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a little protrusion or bony protrusion along the

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posteromedial edge of the tibia.

Report

Description

Faculty

Stephen J Pomeranz, MD

Chief Medical Officer, ProScan Imaging. Founder, MRI Online

ProScan Imaging

Tags

Trauma

Musculoskeletal (MSK)

MRI

Knee

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