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Intercondylar fossa

The intercondylar fossa (also called the intercondylar notch) is a deep groove located between the medial and lateral femoral condyles at the distal end of the femur. It forms a critical osseous space within the knee joint that accommodates key stabilizing ligaments and plays an essential role in knee biomechanics and joint stability.

It is an important anatomical landmark in orthopedic anatomy, arthroscopy, sports medicine, and knee imaging.

Synonyms

  • Intercondylar notch

  • Intercondylar groove of the femur

Location

  • Situated at the distal end of the femur

  • Between the medial and lateral femoral condyles

  • Forms the posterior aspect of the distal femur

  • Opens anteriorly into the knee joint cavity

  • Articulates indirectly with the tibial intercondylar eminence via cruciate ligaments

Anatomical components

  • Osseous boundaries:

    • Medial femoral condyle

    • Lateral femoral condyle

  • Roof:

    • Intercondylar line

  • Floor:

    • Posterior aspect of the distal femoral metaphysis

  • Contained structures:

    • Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)

    • Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)

    • Synovial lining

Relations

Anteriorly:

  • Knee joint cavity

  • Tibial intercondylar area

Posteriorly:

  • Posterior capsule of the knee joint

Medially:

  • Medial femoral condyle

Laterally:

  • Lateral femoral condyle

Inferiorly:

  • Tibial intercondylar eminence

Superiorly:

  • Distal femoral metaphysis

X-ray appearance

Plain radiographs (AP and lateral knee views):

  • Intercondylar fossa: Seen as a lucent notch between femoral condyles

  • Tunnel or notch views: Best demonstrate the depth and width of the fossa

  • Condyles: Appear as symmetric radiopaque structures flanking the notch

CT appearance (Pre-contrast)

Non-contrast CT:

  • Intercondylar fossa: Well-defined osseous groove between femoral condyles

  • Cortical margins: Smooth and sharply outlined

  • Trabecular pattern: Normal cancellous bone texture

  • Spatial assessment: Accurate evaluation of notch width, depth, and shape

  • Contained ligaments: Not directly visualized, inferred by anatomical space

MRI appearance

T1-weighted images:

  • Cortical bone: Low signal intensity

  • Marrow of femoral condyles: High signal intensity

  • Intercondylar fossa space: Intermediate signal with visible cruciate ligaments

T2-weighted images:

  • Cortical margins: Low signal

  • Joint fluid: High signal outlining the fossa

  • Cruciate ligaments: Low-signal linear structures within the fossa

STIR:

  • Bone marrow: Uniform fat-suppressed signal

  • Fossa margins: Clearly delineated

  • Ligaments: Remain low signal against suppressed marrow and fluid

CT VRT 3D image

Intercondylar fossa 3d image

CT image

Intercondylar fossa ct anatomy labelled image-img-00000-00000

MRI image

Intercondylar fossa mri anatomy labelled image-img-00000-00000