This glossary accompanies my course on patellofemoral pain. If you can slowly build up your vocabulary you will be able to read internet articles with greater understanding.
abrasion arthroplasty - burring down the joint cartilage
ACI - two-stage operation to replace damaged cartilage with cells grown in a laboratory
allodynia - pain from a stimulus that is not normally painful
anterior knee pain syndrome - a 'catch all' term which simply means you have pain at the front of the knee. It is not a diagnosis
apprehension sign - in patients who have previously dislocated their patella, any attempt by the surgeon to test its laxity will be vigorously resisted as the patient is apprehensive
AP view - x-ray or other imaging technique from the front
arthrofibrosis (of patella) - scarring under the patellar tendon with pain and stiffness
articular cartilage - the smooth white gristle covering the part of a bone where it forms a joint with another bone
atrophy - wasting
back knee'd - when the knees go beyond straight and bend backwards when standing
Baker's cyst - a fluid-filled lump at the back of the knee
benign - not cancerous
bi-partite patella - a patella which has developed imperfectly, leaving a section unfused to the main body, and which can resemble a fracture
bone scan - test for over active bone
bow-legged - the knees bow out - so that there is a space between the knees even when the feet are together
Blumensaat's line - a line drawn on an x-ray to show whether the knee cap is too low or too high
bowstring - imagine a soap (the knee cap) with a long rope (quads) going through it. The bottom bit of 'rope' is pulled to the outer side by virtue of being attached to the tibial tubercle (making the Q angle). The 'soap', however, is held back by the walls of the groove in which it lies. So when the leg is straightened and this 'rope' taughtens, the forces on the 'soap' increase.
bowstringing - see bowstring
bursa - a kind of flat pocket lubricating awkward body areas to protect tendons from rubbing too hard
capsule - soft envelope surrounding a joint.
catching - a brief episode when sudden pain stops the knee from moving normally
chondroitin sulfate - nutritional supplement
chondromalacia - outdated term with multiple meanings. Can mean abnormally soft cartilage, cartilage ulcers, or pain at the front of the knee. It is not a diagnosis (see anterior knee pain syndrome, patellofemoral syndrome)
complex regional pain syndrome - a pain disorder, where the pain response is out of proportion to the underlying problem. The skin can be cold, hot, sensitive to touch, and /or blotchy.
complex torsional variations - various combinations of twisting of the femur and tibia
condyles - the two rounded 'knuckles' at the lower end of the femur
congenital - something you are born with
constitutional laxity - 'double' joints
crepitus - crackly noise (or sensation) in the joint
CRPS - see complex regional pain syndrome
CT - computerized tomography. A technique of imaging
diagnosis - what is causing the medical problem
dislocate/dislocated - when the knee cap is no longer contained by the sides of the trochlea, and rides outside of it
distal realignment - moving the tibial tubercle
dorsal defect - localized bone disorder that gives the appearance of a 'hole in the bone' on x-ray
dystrophy - abnormal development
effusion - excessive joint fluid
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome - a specific group of symptoms associated with severe double-jointedness (hypermobility)
Elmslie-Trillat - a type of tibial tuberosity transfer
excessive lateral pressure syndrome - when the knee cap is tilted, with more pressure on the tilted side, causing pain
examination - examination (hands on)
extend - straighten (the leg)
extension - straightening (the leg)
extensor mechanism - the quadriceps muscle and its bony attachment to hip and femur, quadriceps tendon, knee cap, patellar tendon, and tibial tubercle
facets - the flattened surfaces on the underside of the knee cap
faradism - a mode of electrical therapy for rehab
fat pad - the lump of fat normally found under and to the sides of the knee cap
fat pad syndrome - nipping of a large fat pad in the joint, causing pain and scarring of the fat pad
femoral epicondyle - bony knob on the femur on the outer side of the knee
femur - thighbone
femoral epicondyle - the little bony lump on the side of the knee
fibrocartilage - inferior cartilage produced by damaged joints in an attempt to heal
fibula - the thinner bone on the outside of the tibia
flexes - bends
flexion - bending (the knee)
focal lesion - a discrete problem area
fracture - a bone break
Fulkerson - a type of tibial tuberosity transfer
gait analysis - objective measurement of the pattern of gait and the forces exerted
glucosamine - a nutritional supplement
gout - a painful chemical disorder of the body where uric acid crystals can be deposited in the knee and other joints
grasshopper knee caps - when the knee caps point outwards
haemarthrosis - bleeding into the joint
hams - same as hamstrings
hamstrings - the muscle group at the back of the thigh
history - the patient's story
hyperactive - over active
hypermobility syndromes - conditions with 'double' joints as a feature
ilio-tibial band - a long fibrous band running down the length of the outer thigh
infra-patellar bursitis - inflammation and tense fluid in the bursa (lubrication sac) under the knee cap
imaging - techniques of demonstrating bones or soft tissues, x-rays, MRI, CT, bone scan
immunocompromized - depressed immune system
instability (of the knee cap) - when the knee cap is not properly contained in the trochlear groove throughout its excursion
interferential - a mode of electrical therapy for rehab
ITB - same as ilio-tibial band
J sign - in some abnormal knees, as the knee moves into extension (straight), the patella moves up and out - like a 'J'
joint line - the circumferential line around the knee representing the bony contact between femur and tibia
knock knees - when the knees are touching the feet are wide apart
lateral - a 'position' word meaning 'towards the outer aspect'
lateral displacement - too far over to the outer aspect
lateral facet - the flattened undersurface of the patella, on the outer or lateral side
lateral retinaculum - fibrous support on the outer aspect of the knee cap
lateral retinacular release - a surgical procedure to cut the lateral retinaculum
lateral view - x-ray or other imaging technique from the side
leg curl - muscle strengthening exercise
press - muscle strengthening exercise
ligament - the fibrous material connecting bone to bone
malalignment - abnormal alignment of one or more structures of the extensor mechanism, causing abnormal stresses on the patella
malignant - cancerous
maltracking - abnormal patellar excursion in the trochlea
Maquet - a type of tibial tuberosity transfer
medial - a 'position' word meaning 'towards the inner aspect'
medial reefing - taking a 'tuck' in the medial retinaculum
medial retinaculum - fibrous support on the inner aspect of the knee cap
meniscus - the shock absorber between femur and tibia
Merchant view - a special x-ray view
metabolic rate - the rate of cellular activity
microfracture - 'picking' the joint cartilage to encourage formation of fibrocartilage
miserable mal-alignment - inwardly rotated patellae ('squinting'), due to rotational deformity of femur and tibia
myofascial trigger point - same as trigger point
neuroma - when a nerve gets itself tangled up into a painful lump
neoplasm - same as tumor
nuclear imaging - a form of imaging using radioactive material
OATS - replacing damaged joint cartilage with little plugs of normal cartilage
Ober test - a test for a tight ilio-tibial band
OCD - same as osteochondritis dissecans
orthotics - shoe inserts
orthotist - person qualified professionally to fit orthotics
Osgood Schlatter's condition - painful enlargement of the tibial tubercle in children
osteochondritis dissecans - in this disorder, a focal area of joint surface is strangled of its blood supply and dies, leaving a crater
osteoporosis - thinning of bone
osteomyelitis - infection of bone
osteotomy - a surgical procedure where bones are cut and moved into a different angle or shape
palpate - feel with the hands and fingers
patella - the knee cap
patella alta - a patella which is positioned too high up on the femur
patella infera - same as patella baja
patellar arthrofibrosis - scarring under the patellar tendon with pain and stiffness
patella baja - a patella which is positioned too far down, usually the result of shortening of the patellar tendon
patellae - the plural of patella
patellar dysplasia - abnormal development of the knee cap so it ends up too big, too small or a funny shape
patellar tendon - the fibrous portion of the quadriceps muscle just below the knee cap
patellar tendinitis - degenerative condition of the patellar tendon. Also called tendinopathy or tendinosis.
patellar tendinopathy - degenerative condition of the patellar tendon. Also called tendinitis or tendinosis.
patellar tendinosis - degenerative condition of the patellar tendon. Also called tendinitis or tendinopathy.
patellar tilt - listing of the patella to one side
patellectomy - operation to cut out the patella
patello-femoral joint - the bony contact between patella and femur
patello-femoral replacement - replacing patellofemoral joint with artificial components
patello-femoral resurfacing - replacing patellofemoral joint with artificial components
patello-femoral syndrome - a non-specific term for pain originating in the patello-femoral joint
pathology - disorder
peri-patellar pain - pain around the knee cap
pes anserine tendons - attached on the tibia, on the inner aspect just below the knee joint line
plica - a plica (eg medial plica, supra-patellar plica) is a fold of joint lining, which may be present inside the knee from birth.
plica syndrome - a plica is a fold of joint lining, which may be present inside the knee from birth. A plica syndrome is a group of symptoms - pain and tenderness around the knee cap, crackling sounds in the joint, a 'catching' sensation in the knee.
popping - a noise (and sensation) in the knee
pre-patellar bursa - the lubrication sac over the knee cap
pre-patellar bursitis - inflammation and tense fluid in the bursa (lubrication sac) over the knee cap
pronate/pronation (the foot) - when the foot rolls inwards
proximal realignment - realigning the extensor mechanism from above the tibial tubercle
pseudo-locking - 'false' locking. The knee locks up momentarily.
Q angle - the angle that the femur and quadriceps muscles makes with a line drawn from the tibial tubercle to the middle of the patella
quadriceps muscle - the 'lap' muscles - made up of four parts
quads - same as quadriceps muscles
quads sets - muscle strengthening exercise
quadriceps tendon - the fibrous portion of the quadriceps muscle just above the knee cap
quadriceps tendinitis - degenerative condition of the quadriceps tendon. Also called tendinopathy or tendinosis.
quadriceps tendinopathy - degenerative condition of the quadriceps tendon. Also called tendinitis or tendinosis.
quadriceps tendinosis - degenerative condition of the quadriceps tendon. Also called tendinitis or tendinopathy.
rectus femoris - one of the four muscles making up the quadriceps muscle
referred pain - pain originating away from the area in which it is experienced
reflex - beyond the control of the patient
reflex sympathetic dystrophy - same as complex regional pain syndrome
rheumatoid arthritis - a condition in which arthritis affects multiple joints, often including the knuckles of the hands, and leads to deformed joints
rheumatological conditions - a group of medical disorders where arthritis of multiple joints is accompanied by other medical symptoms - unwellness, eye problems etcetera
Rosenberg view - a special x-ray view
rotational deviation of tibial tubercle - the tibial tubercle is in the right place, but rotation of the tibia has moved it too far over to the side
Roux - a type of tibial tuberosity transfer
RSD - same as reflex sympathetic dystrophy
Schuss view - a special x-ray view
sensory nerve - nerve which relays sensations including pain
short arc extensions - muscle strengthening exercise
Sinding-Larsen-Johansson syndrome - painful just on the lower bony edge of the kneecap
slipped capital epiphysis - a hip condition of children and adolescents, whuch can lead to arthritis
snapping - a noise (and sensation) in the knee
squinting - see squinting patellae
sprain - partial tear of muscle or tendon
squinting patellae - when the kneecaps face inwards towards each other, like squinting eyes
standing AP view - a special x-ray view
standing flexion view - a special x-ray view
standing tunnel AP view - a special x-ray view
step ups - muscle strengthening exercise
stress fracture - repeated stress to a bone can undermine its integrity and produce a break
subluxation - when the knee cap slips up the wall of the trochlea, but does not actually dislocate
supra-patellar pouch - extension of the joint cavity into a flattened pouch above the knee cap
sympathetic - a part of the nerve structure in the spine
sympathetic block - anaesthetising the sympathetic nerves
symptomatically - symptom by symptom, ie each symptom treated individually
synovial impingement - nipping of excessive joint lining between the bones
synovitis - inflammation of the synovium
synovium - the delicate lining of the joint
Synvisc - injectable joint lubricant
technetium - a radioactive material used in bone scans
tendon - the fibrous material connecting a muscle to bone
tendinitis - also called tendinosis or tendinopathy. A degenerative condition affecting a tendon.
TENS - transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation - a mode of electrical pain relief
Theraband - heavy duty elastic band for resistance rehab
tibia - the shin bone
tibial rotation - a twist in the long axis of the tibia
tibial tubercle - the bony lump a thumbsbreadth below to kneecap, to which the patellar tendon attaches
tibial tuberosity - same as tibial tubercle
tibio-femoral joint - the bony contact between femur and tibia
tilt - same as patellar tilt
translational deviation of tibial tubercle - the tibial tubercle is too far to one side, although the tibia is not rotated
traumatic fracture - classic bone break from sudden injury
trigger point - area of muscle tenderness which triggers pain elsewhere
trochlea - the groove in the femur bone along which the knee cap slides
trochlear dysplasia - abnormal trochlear groove, where the walls are imperfectly developed
trochlear groove - same as trochlea
tumor - a growth. Same as neoplasm
ultrasound - a mode of electrical therapy for rehab
unstable (knee cap) - the groove in the femur bone along which the knee cap slides
unsymptomatic - not causing any symptoms
valgus deformity - knock knees
vastus intermedius - one of the four muscles making up the quadriceps muscle
vastus lateralis - one of the four muscles making up the quadriceps muscle
vastus medialis - one of the four muscles making up the quadriceps muscle
vastus medialis obliquus - lower fibers of the vastus medialis. They are less vertical than the remainder of the vastus medialis and help the patella from slipping laterally when the quad muscles contract.
VMO - same as vastus medialis obliquus
PREVIOUS PART: Surgery to slow established patellofemoral arthritis
Page first published 2008, and reviewed August 2023 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)
Dr Ronald Grelsamer has decades of experience in managing problems of the knee related to the patella. In this course he gives a comprehensive overview of those conditions that can cause pain in the patellar region.