Popliteus muscle on the tibia. Popliteus is also attached to the lateral meniscus in the knee and draws it posteriorly during knee flexion to prevent crushing the meniscus between the tibia and femur as the knee flexes. Popliteus muscle The popliteus muscle in the leg is used for unlocking the knees when walking, by laterally rotating the femur on the tibia during the closed chain portion of the gait cycle (one with the foot in contact with the ground). In open chain movements (when the involved limb is not in contact with the ground), the popliteus muscle medially rotates the tibia on
Medial knee injuries adductor tubercle. The sMCL connects the femur to the tibia. It originates just proximal and posterior to the medial epicondyle (not directly on the epicondyle) and splits into two distinct sections. One tibial section attaches to soft tissue, 1 cm distal to the joint line. The other tibial section attaches directly to the tibia, anterior to the posteromedial tibial crest, 6 cm distal to the joint line. This distal attachment is the stronger of the two and makes up the floor of the pes anserine bursa. The proximal tibial attachment of the sMCL is the primary stabilizer to valgus force