Anatomy of the Knee

The knee is an important joint comprised of three bones:

the Tibia, femur, and patella. The Tibia is also known as

the shin; the femur is the largest of the three bones and

helps to form the thigh; and the patella is known as the

kneecap. There is a fourth bone, the fibula which sits

next to the tibia and can sometimes play a role in knee 

problems.

together. The main ligaments in the knee are the

cruciate ligaments that are in the center of the joint and

form a crisscross. They are the anterior and posterior

cruciate ligaments. There are also ligaments on each

side of the knee. One on the outside of the joint is the

lateral collateral ligament and the one on the inside of

the knee is the medial collateral ligament.

The joint space is contained within material called the 

synovial. There is fluid within the joint called synovial

fluid which allows a smooth movement of the knee.

Muscles allow movement of the knee. The main muscle

groups in the knee are the quadriceps muscle which allow

the knee to straighten and the hamstrings which allows the

knee to bend.

Other components of the knee include tendons and joint bursa.

There are several knee conditions that can occur when one or 

more of the anatomical components is not functioning properly.

If there is damage to the cartilage of the knee, arthritis can occur

and cause pain. Ligamental injuries are common in people who

play sports. Meniscus tears ca occur with wear and tear or with

injury.

It is important to seek medical care and advice with persistent

knee pain.