Anatomy of the Knee|Knee Anatomy

Anatomy of the Knee, Your knee is the biggest and most complicated joint your body has. It is also considered the most vulnerable of all bones that form the skeletal system because it carries enormous weight & pressure loads while it gives you the ability to move smoothly.

When you walk, your knees are supporting1.5times your almost total weight. If you go upstairs, they support around 3 to 4 times of your weight and if you do squatting, it’s about 8 times.

As you can see, your knees play a very important role in your life. Hence, you must take care of them too like the way you do on the other parts of your body.

By the way, did you know that your knees are composed of various parts? Learn more about the anatomy of your knees to understand how they work.

The Anatomy of Your Knees

The Anatomy of Your Knees, The significant parts of your knees are the bones, tendons, ligaments, joint capsules, and cartilages. Collagen is the fibrous tissue that can be found all throughout your body. As you grow older, your collagen also breaks down.

The skeletal structure of an adult primarily consists of bone with small cartilage in spaces. The cartilage and bone are connective tissues and they have chondrocytes that are embedded in the gel-like mold of elastin and collagen fibers.

Cartilage could be hyaline, elastic, or fibrocartilage and it may differ depending on the proportions of elastin and collagen. Cartilage is a stiff but flexible tissue that works well in terms of weight-bearing and that’s the reason why it can be found in your joints.

It is also almost free from blood vessels. Meanwhile, a bone tends to be filled with blood vessels and it can repair itself alone. It contains more water which makes the cartilage flexible.

Your knees are comprised of 2 bones and these are the tibia and femur. They meet in order to develop the hinge joint. This joint is maintained and secured on its frontal side with the help of the patella or the kneecap.\

The joint of your knees is cushioned by articular cartilage which covers the endings of the femur and tibia including the patella’s underside. The side meniscus and the medial meniscus are cartilage pads that further soften the joint and act as the absorbers of shock between the bones.

Ligaments support stabilizing your knees and the collateral ligaments lie along the surfaces of your knees and are responsible for restricting the sideways movement.

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) connects the femur to the tibia at the knees’ middle portion. Its main purpose is to restrict rotation as well as the forward movement of the tibia. When this ligament got damaged, it will be replaced with a new one ,and the procedure done to relieve this problem is called ACL reconstruction.

The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is located at the back of the ACL or the anterior cruciate ligament. It is responsible for limiting the backward movement of the tibia. Your muscles are connected to your knees by means of the tough group of fibrous connective tissues called tendons.

These parts of your knees together with your leg muscles are working to handle the stress that your knees are experiencing when you walk, jump or run.

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 What Bones are in the anatomy of the knee?

What Bones are in the anatomy of the knee? If you look at the anatomy of your knees, you will discover that there are several bones that develop them. Actually, your knees are made up of 4 bones. Without even one of these bones, your knees will not be capable of performing their job.

What are the Bones of the Knees?

What are the Bones of the Knees? Keep in mind that bones provide strength, flexibility, and stability to your knees. Without them, you will never be able to stand and move. The following are the bones that form your knees.

Tibia

Tibia is also known as the shin bone which runs from your knees to your ankle. The top portion of it is made up of 2 plateaus and the knuckle-like protuberance which is called the tibial tubercle. There are 2 crescent-shaped cartilages that are attached to the superior part of the tibia.

These cartilages can be found on the sides of the tibial plateau. These cartilages are called menisci and they are responsible for absorbing the shock that your knees experience in every move you do. They are also helpful in stabilizing the knees.

Patella

Patella is also called the kneecap and it is the flat and triangular-shaped bone that forms your knees. Patella moves once you move your legs. Like the previously mentioned bone, this one also comes with its function and that is to give relief to the friction that is being produced by the muscles and bones when you kneel down or if you stand up. Another thing is that it protects the knee joint.

The kneecap glides on the bottom frontal surface of the femur which is also one of the 4 bones that form your knees. Kneecap glides at the femur’s surface between the 2 protuberances known as condyles. These protuberances create a groove referred to as the patellofemoral groove.

Femur

Fibula, The femur is typically called the “thigh bone”. It is the biggest, most powerful, and the longest bone in the human body’s skeletal system. It comes with circle knobs that can be found at the end of the bone. These are the so-called condyles.

Fibula

Fibula, The last in the line is called the fibula. This is the long and thin bone situated at the lower leg, particularly on the lateral part. It runs alongside the tibia starting from your knees up to your ankles. The fibula is usually mistaken for the knee bone. Actually, this is the thin bone that runs down on the external portion of your lower leg.

Technically, it is not a part of the joint of your knees but it is connected with the tibia because of the muscles. The fibula is very sensitive as it can be engaged in some problems that you may experience when you suffer from a knee injury.

Each of the knee bones you have is covered with a slim sheet of articular cartilage. It protects the bones while giving some cushion. It also allows the knee bones to glide smoothly without friction.

Knee Muscles

Knee Muscles, Basically, the knee is the largest and the most complicated joint in the human body. It is also the part that is most vulnerable mainly because it carries the entire weight of your body. Also, it supports enormous pressure and tension every time you move. The knee also provides different kinds of movement and flexibility as you do your tasks every day.

Normally, when a person walks, the knee will support almost 1.5 times the entire body weight, when a person is climbing stairs it carries al '3.4times the weight of the body. Squatting, on the other hand, carries almost 8 times the total body weight of a person.

That is why the knee and the entire muscles and tendon that supports it and make it flexible are very essential and must be properly taken care of.

Generally, the knee connects the femur bone which is the longest bone in the body to the tibia. This is the second-longest bone in the human body. The knee joint is called the synovial joint which acts as vital support for the body. There are two known joints in the knee which are composed of the tibiofemoral and the patellofemoral joint.

The tibiofemoral joins the femur and the tibia together while the patellofemoral joins the knee femur and the kneecap. Basically, the two joints allow bending and straightening of the knee. It also allows the knee to rotate slightly from side to side without providing injury or pain.

The two joints work together every time the knee is used. This will provide enough support, balance, strength, and mobility to the entire body.

The Importance of the Knee Muscles

The Importance of the Knee Muscles, There are several types of muscles that provide support and flexibility to your knee and they include the hamstring, quadriceps, and other muscles that can be found around it. The knee muscles provide additional extension, rotation, and flexibility that are mainly used in everyday activities like walking and climbing.

Basically, the large group of fleshy muscles is called the quadriceps femoris primarily occupies the side and front of the thigh and will act as the main extensor of the knee. The vast lateralis, rectus femoris, vastus enter medium, and the vast medialis are the four muscles that connect or attach the patellar tendon and the knee cap that passes through the knee front.

Hamstring muscles that include the semimembranosus, biceps femoris, and semitendinosus are three types of knee muscles that provide flexibility on the knee. These knee muscles pass behind the thigh which connects closely to the middle ends of the tibia and fibula. The knee can be supported by a ridge of the hamstring behind it.

There are also other types of muscles that help the knee to move and rotate. One of them is the popliteus muscle which allows the entire leg to rotate inwards. The articularis genus muscle is responsible for the elevation of the knee joint and its capsule. The knee joint rotates slightly after every flex of the knee muscles, which include the plantar flexor, dorsal muscle, and three other knee muscles. The group of knee muscles allows you to move, walk, run, jump and bend without any problems at all.

Exercises for the Knee Muscles

What ligaments are in the anatomy of the knee? It's nearly impossible to restore movement, strength, and flexibility when you get old or have an injury. Sometimes, pain is greatly associated with every action or wrong movement that your body provides.

Joint pains and muscle pain are one of the common problems that people will have as they grow older. This is a natural occurrence that can also be stopped or controlled. There are different types of knee stretches and strengthening exercises that can be used to restore the flexibility and movement of your knee.

For a knee that is suffering from pain and other kinds of joint or muscle problems, knee stretching exercise is the best option. There are also different kinds of knee stretches that can provide fast relief for aches. It will take less effort for your knee to be flexed. If you want to strengthen your knee muscles and bones, knee strengthening exercise is what you need. Compared to knee stretching exercises, knee strengthening will require you to look for a professional who has knowledge of the different types of strengthening exercises.

It will basically require a lot of effort and movements that are designed to provide additional strength, support, and power to the knee muscles. The wall slide, step-ups, and abductor raise are good examples that are mainly used by athletes and sports enthusiasts to strengthen their knee muscles, tendons, bones, and ligaments which are essential in different kinds of games.

What ligaments are in the anatomy of the knee?

What ligaments are in the anatomy of the knee? Ligaments are designed to literally attach bones and provide stability and strength to the knee which has the least stability of all bones. Generally, ligaments are tough, strong bands that are not stretchable or flexible.

If a ligament is accidentally stretched or extended, it will remain in that way, or in a worst-case scenario, if the ligament is stretched too much, it will simply brāk.

As you know, a ligament is strong but if it reached a certain point of extension, the chance of having a torn ligament is imminent. Normally, the function of the ligament is to provide balance and stability to the knee that will support the entire weight and activity of the human body. There are several types of ligaments that are present in the knee and this is.

Kinds of Ligaments on the Knee

Kinds of Ligaments on the Knee, Medial collateral ligament (MCL) – this ligament attaches the side medial of the femur directly to the medial side of the tibia provides a limitation on the side movements or motion of the knee.

The lateral collateral ligament (LCL) – is laterally attached to the side of the femur bone and also to the side of the fibula to limit sideways movement of the knee.

An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) – this ligament attaches both femur and tibia right in the center of the knee and also in front of the posterior ligament. This particular ligament provides limitations on the forward motion and rotation of the tibia.

The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) – is basically one of the strongest ligaments in the knee that connect both the femur and tibia. This is located deep inside just behind the anterior ligament that limits too much backward motion of the knee to prevent serious injury.

The patellar ligament – is the one that attaches the tibia to the kneecap.

Human knee ligaments

The Importance of Ligaments

The Importance of Ligaments, Generally, ligaments provide support, stability, balance, and mobility to the knee joint that allows a person to walk or run. Unlike tendons that are capable of being stretched or extended, the ligaments only have a certain extension limit that must be protected in order to avoid injury.

Ligaments simply surround the entire joint of the knee that provides additional protection and support for the entire muscles, tendons, and bones.

However, it can be strengthened just like an ordinary muscle that can double its support and balance for the knee and the entire body. There are more ways for a person to injure his/her ligament than the choices in making them strong.

That is why it is essential that people should take good care of them.

Ligaments are also important in connecting different bones and holding them firm and stable for as long as they could. Without ligaments, connecting every bone in the knee alone is impossible.

How much more in providing the balance and support that the knee demands? There are ways for a person to take care of and enhance the ligaments in his/her knee.

Keeping the Knee Strong and Healthy

Normally, as people get old, the ligaments, tendons, cartilage, muscle, and bones in the knee will have a significant loss of mobility, strength, and function. These conditions are typical amongst all people and knee pain will soon be felt as the cartilage can no longer provide support for the movement of two bones in the knee.

But in order to extend the life of the knee ligaments, performing a knee exercise is essential. This will simply provide the needed strength, health, and mobility of the knee for a long period of time.

That is why knee exercise is essential for keeping your knee healthy so that you can perform different tasks and activities without providing pain or injury.

In general, knee exercise is bound to make all the joints part strong and healthy not just some specific part of the knee but the entire knee. These exercises will provide extended life for the entire components of the knee especially if you prefer athletic sports or any kind of sports.

A healthy knee can be more mobile, flexible, and strong even when pushed to its limits. It can withstand repeated movements that are made to injure or destroy the knee. Over-extended tendon or ligaments is typical for the sports enthusiast, but sustaining a serious injury is avoided every time.

The reason is simple they have already found a way to strengthen the entire knee in order to reduce the chance of having a knee injury.

Seriously, a knee injury is the worst thing that could happen to a person. This injury can easily make him/her immobilized forever. That is why it is essential to maintain, improve and enhance the strength of the knee in order to stay mobile for as long as possible.

Also, knee injuries take a long time to heal and it will also take several months for rehabilitation that will enable a person to walk again properly. However, the chance of walking again after a serious knee injury is very slim.

What Tendons are in the anatomy of the knee?

What Tendons are in the anatomy of the knee? Tendons in the knee are basically elastic tissue that literally connects the muscles and the bones together. Many of the knee tendons are specifically made to provide stability and balance to the knee which is also important to maintain the body upright every time.

Generally, there are two kinds of major tendons in the knee which include the patellar and quadriceps. These two types of knee tendons also have different purposes on the knee that provide support and stability.

The Quadriceps tendon is responsible for connecting the kneecap and the quadriceps muscle that gives the knee its power for straightening. This knee tendon also holds the patella which is located in the femur also known as the patellofemoral groove.

The patellar tendon, on the other hand, is the one that connects the shinbone and kneecap; it is also known as a ligament.

The Importance of Knee Tendons

The Importance of Knee Tendons, The purpose of the tendon in every human body is very essential because they are responsible for connecting the muscles and bones together to make a tighter They have a bond between them

This connection ensures the proper function of the bone and muscles as the knee performs different movements like walking, running, climbing, and jumping.

Basically, without knee tendons, muscles and bones will have no chance to be connected and mobility is nearly impossible. The tendon acts like a pair of knots and bolts that keeps all the bones and muscle intact all the time.

They also provide the needed stretch in case the knee was moved incorrectly. This flexibility and stretch are capable of saving the knee from having injuries.

The elasticity characteristic of the tendon allows it to move in different ways like rotating from left to right and straitening and bending the knee inward and outward. Generally, knee tendons connect the different bones in the knee that allows a person to move.

The back and the front of the bones are connected by tendons just like the middle of the inside part of the bone which has cartilage.

Knee tendons are essential in the largest joints in the human body as it supports the entire weight and tension that the body is giving the knee in every activity. In order to protect and maintain the proper function of the tendon, experts have developed different types of knee tendon exercise that is designed to strengthen the -tendon'.

Tendon Exercises

Tendon Exercises, Generally, tendon exercise is designed to improve the flexibility and strength of the knee tendon which can be damaged as a person grows. Inflamed tendons or knee tendonitis can give a person pain and limit movement which is literally not good for athletes.

There are different ways to protect and strengthen the tendon and its flexibility in order to avoid knee complications. Basically, this exercise is the best way to relieve the pain that most people experience as they grow old.

Without proper care and exercise for the knee tendon, the rapid wear and tear of the cartilage can cause serious problems in the knee and joints.

That is why these tendon exercises are specifically designed to prolong the life of the tendon and the surrounding muscles, bones, and cartilage.

Knee Cartilage

Knee Cartilage, Basically, the knee is one important joint in the body that connects two of the longest bones. It is called a joint mainly because two bones are joined together touching both of their ends.

Now, imagine the two bones in the knee touching each other every time a person walks. If both of the bones collide or touch each other while supporting the entire weight of the body, the bone will simply break. The reason is simple; it does not have any insulation or protection from the other bone that can protect it whenever the bones touch each other.

That is why at every end of the bone in the knee, there is a cartilage that allows the joint to move freely without damaging the other bone.

The articular cartilage can be found in both the ends of the knee joints it is mainly a white, fibrous smooth connective tissue that acts as an insulator that protects the joints. This simply allows the bones in the joints to move freely against each other.

Articular cartilages cover both the end of the femur bone the top of the patella and the top of the tibia. In between the two bones, there is a disc-like cushion that literally acts like a natural shock absorber that is essential in supporting the entire weight of a person.

Generally, a healthy knee can have a rubbery like meniscus cartilage that will absorb shock and different kinds of forces the knee may encounter every day. In every joint, articulate cartilage can be found and that is lubricated by synovial fluids which are produced especially for the proper lubrication of the joints.

It is a sticky and viscous lubricant that provides added protection from the wear and tear of the cartilage. anatomy of your knees