The Anatomy Of The Knees
Our knee is formed by two joints: the femur (thigh bone) and the tibia (leg bone), and in the anterior part, it has the patella (kneecap), a rounded bone. In addition, large ligaments join the femur and tibia and provide stability and muscles that give the knee strength. It also understands the anatomy of the knee and the cartilage that makes movement possible. And for this movement to happen, the joint needs to be lubricated to reduce friction, being the synovial membrane’s responsible role. Making an analogy, the knee can be compared to a gear. The entire structure must be working in harmony so that it does not overload and cause short or long-term trauma. You can visit any hospital like KDMS Hospital for example for any injury in the knee.
Knee Skeleton
The knee is one of the most complex joints in the human body and is divided into structures that we
Bones
As we mentioned above, the knee comprises two important bones: the femur and the tibia, in addition to the patella. The femur is located in the thigh, the longest and most voluminous of the human skeleton and the most resistant. The tibia is what we know as the shin bone and is located between the feet and the knee. It articulates with the femur and ligaments of the meniscus, on the side with the fibula and on the lower area with the bones of the foot, called the tarsi.
Joints
The type of knee joint is called synovial, composed of ligaments and capsules with a compartment containing the fluid that lubricates the joint. The knee joint also comprises articular cartilage, which is a material that surrounds the ends of the bones, allowing the joint to slide usually. Its function is to absorb impacts and provide the movement with ease.
Ligaments
A ligament is a tough tissue connecting the ends of bones. They can capture the joint’s speed, movement, and position. In addition to the two groups of ligaments, the PCL (posterior cruciate ligament) and ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), we have the menisci, whose primary function is to cushion and distribute the weight exerted on the joint. In the knee, we have two menisci: one that works to seal and spread the force of the body weight and the other that contributes to joint stability.
Tendons
It is a fibrous cord formed by connective tissue. In the knee, they connect the muscles to the bones and the patella to the tibia.
Muscles
It is made up of muscle tissue and is characterized by producing leg flexion and extension movements.
Nerves
The nerve that comprises the knee region is divided into the tibial nerve (back of the leg) and peroneal nerve (going from the outside of the knee to the front of the leg and foot). And still, at the back of the knee, we have the sciatic nerve, a large nerve that runs from the leg to the foot.