Knee.
Ultrasound scanning procedures
Locatio Structur Components Patient (area) Probe placement-starting point Scanning Bony/other
n e position landmarks
Anterior Joint Suprapatellar Alternative Longitudinal – with the distal end Longitudinal and transverse Femur
recess positions: of the probe over the proximal sweeping Proximal pole of
Suprapatellar fat 1. Patient supine, pole of the patella patella
pad knee slightly (30º)
Prefemoral fat pad flexed
2. Patient supine,
knee in neutral
position with
quadriceps muscle
contraction
Femoral cartilage Patient supine, knee Longitudinal to the femoral Longitudinal and transverse Femoral trochlea
fully flexed trochlea – over the femoral sweeping
trochlea proximal to the patella
Hoffa’s fat pad Patient supine, knee Proximal end of the probe over the Longitudinal and transverse Distal pole of the
30º flexed distal pole of the patella, parallel sweeping patellar
to the patellar tendon Anterior tibial
tubercle
Tendon Quadriceps tendon Patient supine, knee Longitudinal – with the distal end Longitudinal and transverse Proximal pole of
30º flexed of the probe over the proximal sweeping patella
pole of the patella
Patellar tendon Patient supine, knee Longitudinal – with the proximal Longitudinal and transverse Distal pole of the
30º flexed end of the probe over the distal sweeping patella
pole of the patella Anterior tibial
tubercle
Other Prepatellar bursa Patient supine, knee Longitudinal midline over the Longitudinal and transverse Patella
in neutral position patella sweeping
Superficial Patient supine, knee Proximal end of the probe over the Longitudinal and transverse Anterior tibial
infrapatellar bursa, 30º flexed distal pole of the patella and distal sweeping tubercle
Deep infrapatellar end of the probe over the tibial Patellar tendon
bursa tubercle
Medial Joint Medial Patient supine, knee One end of the probe over the Longitudinal and transverse, Patella
(parapatellar) joint in neutral position patella and the other one over the midline to medial sweeping Medial femoral
recesses femoral condyle condyle
Tibiofemoral Patient supine, hip Longitudinal – with the proximal Longitudinal and transverse Medial femoral
medial joint space slightly flexed and end of the probe on the medial sweeping condyle
externally rotated, femoral condyle and the distal one Start on the anterior part, Medial tibial
knee slightly flexed on the medial tibial condyle longitudinal over the patellar condyle
tendon and then move the
probe medially and posteriorly
Tendon Pes anserinus Patient supine, hip Longitudinal to the tibia – Longitudinal and transverse Medial femoral
tendons (gracilis, slightly flexed and transverse to the tendons, sweeping condyle
sartorius and externally rotated, proximal-medial aspect of the tibia Sweeping from medial to Medial tibial
semitendinosus knee slightly flexed anterior and from proximal to condyle
tendons) distal over the proximal medial Inferior medial
tibia. The inferior medial genicular artery
genicular artery may be
visualized between the bony
cortex and the medial
collateral ligament
Other Medial Patient supine, knee One end of the probe over the Longitudinal sweeping Patella
retinaculum 30º flexed patella and the other one over the Dynamic: flexion of the knee Medial femoral
medial femoral condyle (to visualize tear) condyle
Medial collateral Patient supine, hip Longitudinal – with the proximal Longitudinal and transverse Medial femoral
ligament slightly flexed and end of the probe on the medial sweeping condyle
externally rotated, femoral condyle and the distal one Start on the Medial tibial
knee slightly flexed on the medial tibial condyle anterior part, longitudinal over condyle/
the patellar tendon and then Inferior medial
move the probe medially and genicular artery
posteriorly
Lateral Joint Lateral Patient supine, knee One end of the probe over the Longitudinal and transverse, Patella
(parapatellar) joint 30º flexed patella and the other one over the midline to lateral sweeping Lateral femoral
recesses lateral femoral condyle condyle
Tibiofemoral Patient supine, Longitudinal- with the proximal Longitudinal and transverse Lateral femoral
lateral joint space Patient supine, hip end of the probe over the lateral sweeping condyle
slightly flexed and femoral condyle and the distal one Start on the anterior part, Lateral tibial
internally rotated, over the lateral tibial condyle longitudinal over the patellar condyle
knee slightly flexed tendon and then move the
probe laterally and posteriorly
Proximal tibio- Patient supine, knee One end of the probe over the The fibular head is palpated. Tibia
fibular joint 30º flexed fibular head and the other one over The lateral end of the Fibular head
the proximal tibia transducer is placed over the
fibular head; the medial end of
the transducer is oriented
toward the inferior patellar
pole and placed over the
proximal tibia
Tendon Iliotibial band Patient supine, hip Longitudinal – with the proximal Longitudinal and transverse Lateral femoral
in internal rotation end of the probe over the lateral sweeping condyle
aspect of the lateral femoral Gerdy’s tubercle
condyle and the distal end of the
probe over the Gerdy’s tubercle,
parallel to the examination table
Biceps femoris Patient supine, hip Longitudinal – with the distal end Longitudinal and transverse Popliteal groove
tendon in internal rotation of the probe over the fibular head, sweeping of the femur
and the proximal end towards the Fibular head
posterolateral aspect of the thigh
Popliteus tendon Patient supine, hip Longitudinal to the femur –over Transverse and longitudinal Popliteal groove
in internal rotation the popliteal groove of the femur, sweeping of the femur
short axis view of tendon
Others Lateral Patient supine, knee One end of the probe over the Longitudinal sweeping Patella
retinaculum 30º flexed patella and the other one over the Dynamic: flexion of the knee Lateral femoral
lateral femoral condyle (to visualize tear) condyle
Lateral collateral Patient supine, knee Longitudinal - with the proximal Longitudinal and transverse Lateral femoral
ligament 30º flexed end of the probe on the femoral sweeping condyle
lateral condyle over popliteal Popliteal groove
groove and the distal end over the Fibular head
fibular head
Posterio Tendon Semimembranosus Patient prone, knee Longitudinal- posteromedial Longitudinal and transverse Postero-medial
r tendon extended, leg resting aspect of the medial femoral sweeping aspect of the
on the examination condyle parallel to the medial medial femoral
table, foot free collateral ligament condyle.
Postero-medial
aspect of the
medial tibial
condyle
Other Semimembranosus Patient prone, knee Transverse to the femoral shaft, Transverse and longitudinal Medial femoral
-gastrocnemius extended, leg resting over the medial head of the sweeping condyle,
bursa on the examination gastrocnemius muscle and posterior aspect
table, foot free semimembranosus tendon
