Tibial plateau
Last revised by Daniel J Bell ◉ on 8 Dec 2021
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Knipe H, Bell D, Hacking C, et al. Tibial plateau. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 24 Sep 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-28729
Permalink:
rID:
28729
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Henry Knipe had no recorded disclosures.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosuresLast revised:
8 Dec 2021, Daniel J Bell ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Daniel J Bell had no recorded disclosures.
View Daniel J Bell's current disclosuresRevisions:
8 times, by 4 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Lateral tibial plateau
- Tibial plateaus
- Medial tibial plateau
- Tibial plateaux
The tibial plateau (plural: plateaus or plateaux are equally acceptable 4) is the proximal articular surface of the tibia.
On this page:
Terminology
Strictly the plateau refers to the whole articular surface of the proximal tibia. Therefore, saying "medial tibial plateau" or "lateral tibial plateau", or, even worse, collectively referring to them as the tibial plateaus/plateaux, is anatomically-incorrect.
Gross anatomy
The tibial plateau is composed of two parts:
- concave articular surfaces of the oval-shaped medial and circular-shaped lateral tibial condyles (medial and lateral tibial plateaus)
- the medial tibial condyle is larger, stronger and transmits more weight than the lateral tibial condyle
- central non-articular intercondylar area
- site of attachment of menisci and cruciate ligaments
Articulations
Via the medial and lateral menisci the tibial plateau articulates with the medial and femoral condyles to form the tibiofemoral part of the knee joint.
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Radiographic features
Plain radiograph
- the tibial plateau slopes posteroinferiorly 10-15 degrees; thus anterior tibial plateau fractures may be occult on AP projections
Related pathology
References
- 1. Chummy S. Sinnatamby. Last's Anatomy. (2011) ISBN: 9780702033957 - Google Books
- 2. Kenneth J. Koval (Editor), Joseph D. Zuckerman (Editor). Atlas of Orthopaedic Surgery. (2004) ISBN: 9780781717885 - Google Books
- 3. Kenneth A. Egol, Kenneth J. Koval, Joseph David Zuckerman. Handbook of Fractures. (2010) ISBN: 9781605477602 - Google Books
- 4. Editors of Chambers, Ian Brookes. The Chambers Dictionary. (2006) ISBN: 9780550101853 - Google Books
Related articles: Anatomy: Lower limb
- skeleton of the lower limb
- joints of the lower limb
-
hip joint
- ligaments
- muscles
- additional structures
- hip joint capsule
- zona orbicularis
- iliotibial band
-
hip bursae
- anterior
- iliopsoas bursa (iliopectineal bursa)
- lateral
- subgluteal bursae
- greater trochanteric bursa (subgluteus maximus bursa)
- subgluteus medius bursa
- subgluteus minimus bursa
- gluteofemoral bursa
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- postero-inferior
- anterior
- ossification centers
-
knee joint
- ligaments
- anterior cruciate ligament
- posterior cruciate ligament
- medial collateral ligament
- lateral collateral ligament
- meniscofemoral ligament (mnemonic)
-
posterolateral ligamentous complex
- arcuate ligament
- patellar tendon and quadriceps tendon
- anterolateral ligament
- posterior oblique ligament
- oblique popliteal ligament
- medial patellofemoral ligament
- additional structures
- extensor mechanism of the knee
- groove for the popliteus tendon
- knee bursae
- anterior bursae
- medial bursae
- lateral bursae
- posterior bursae
- knee capsule
- lateral patellar retinaculum
- medial patellar retinaculum
- menisci
- pes anserinus (mnemonic)
- ossification centers
- ligaments
- tibiofibular joints
-
ankle joint
- regional anatomy
- medial ankle
- lateral ankle
- anterior ankle
- ligaments
- medial collateral (deltoid) ligament
- lateral collateral ligament
- additional structures
- ankle bursae
- ossification centers of the ankle
- variants
- regional anatomy
- foot joints
- subtalar joint
- mid-tarsal (Chopart) joint
-
tarsometatarsal (Lisfranc) joint
- ligaments
- intermetatarsal joint
- metatarsophalangeal joint
- interphalangeal joint
- ossification centers
-
hip joint
- spaces of the lower limb
-
muscles of the lower limb
- muscles of the pelvic group
- muscles of the thigh
- muscles of the leg
- anterior compartment of the leg
- posterior compartments of the leg
- lateral compartment of the leg
- muscles of the foot
- dorsal muscles
- plantar muscles
- 1st layer
- 2nd layer
- 3rd layer
- 4th layer
- accessory muscles of the lower limb
- accessory gluteal muscles
-
accessory muscles of the ankle
- accessory peroneal muscles
- accessory flexor digitorum longus muscle
- accessory soleus muscle
- peroneocalcaneus internus muscle
- tibiocalcaneus internus muscle
- extensor hallucis capsularis tendon
- anterior fibulocalcaneus muscle
- accessory extensor digiti secundus muscle
- tibioastragalus anticus of Gruber muscle
- vascular supply of the lower limb
- arterial supply of the lower limb
- venous drainage of the lower limb
- innervation of the lower limb
- lymphatic system of the lower limb
- lymphatic pathways
- anteromedial group
- anterolateral group
- posteromedial group
- posterolateral group
- lower limb lymph nodes
- lymphatic pathways
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