Stifle

Stifle is a complex joint in the hind limbs of quadruped mammals such as the sheep, horse or dog. It is comparable to the human knee. The stifle joint joins three bones: the femur, patella, and tibia. The joint consists of three smaller ones: the femoropatellar joint, medial femorotibial joint, and lateral femorotibial joint.

The stifle joint is the largest joint in the animal body. It is a compound joint, consisting of the femorotibial articulation (femur and tibia), the femoropatellar articulation (femur and patella), and the proximal tibiofibular articulation.

Anatomy

The stifle joint consists of the femoropatellar joint and the femorotibial joint. The femoropatellar joint is located between the femur and the patella. The femorotibial joint is located between the femur and the tibia. The proximal tibiofibular joint is not part of the stifle joint.

The femoropatellar joint is a plane synovial joint. The joint is stabilized by the medial and lateral patellar ligaments which attach to the patella and the proximal end of the tibia.

The femorotibial joint is a hinge joint. The joint is stabilized by the cruciate ligaments. The anterior cruciate ligament prevents the femur from sliding backward on the tibial plateau. The posterior cruciate ligament prevents the femur from sliding forward on the tibial plateau.

Clinical significance

In veterinary medicine, stifle joint problems are among the most common causes of lameness in rear limbs. Dogs are commonly affected by various disorders of the stifle joint, such as cranial cruciate ligament rupture, luxating patella, and osteoarthritis.

See also

• Knee
• Hock (anatomy)
• Elbow (anatomy)
• Ankle
• Wrist
• Veterinary medicine

Stifle Resources
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