An overview of the anatomy of the knee:

The knee joint is found within the leg between the femur (thigh bone) and the tibia/fibula (two bones in the lower leg) and has a somewhat complicated anatomy. The knee is made of several important structures that allow it to perform its functions without difficulty. It is considered a hinge joint, meaning it has a limited range of motion and is also prone to many different types of injuries. Dr. Joseph Lamplot, orthopedic knee specialist, treats patients in Arlington Heights, Kildeer, Lake Zurich, Barrington, and the surrounding Northwest Suburbs of Chicago, IL who need an experienced doctor to diagnose and treat a knee condition.

Knee Anatomy | Atlanta GA

What is the knee made of?

Bones of the Knee:

The knee is composed of four separate bones that help provide structure and stability during the movement of the joint. These include:

  • Femur: This bone is also known as the thigh bone and forms the upper section of the knee
  • Patella: Also known as the kneecap, this is a special bone found on the front of the knee. It connects two tendons that allow us to straighten the knee.
  • Tibia/Fibula: These two bones are found in the lower leg and are responsible for creating the lower section of the knee. The tibia is a larger bone found on the front section of the leg, while the fibula is a smaller bone found behind and alongside the tibia.

Knee Cartilage:

There are two distinct types of cartilage found in the anatomy of the knee joint. Each has a unique, yet equally important job in the knee.

  • Articular cartilage: this type of cartilage is found at the ends of each of the bones in the knee. This cartilage is a tough, yet slippery surface that allows the bones in the knee anatomy to glide across each other without experiencing friction. This type of tissue can also be found on the back side of the patella, which comes into contact with the other bones.
  • Meniscus: The meniscus is composed of two half-moon-shaped cartilage segments (medial and lateral) that act as a cushion or shock absorber in the knee. The meniscus is important for the stability of the knee during movement and is different from the other articular cartilage because it contains receptors that can feel pain and assist with balance and awareness of the joint in space.

Knee Ligaments:

The ligaments found in the knee anatomy connect the bones to each other to form the structure of the knee joint. These include:

  • Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL): The ACL is located in the middle of the knee and connects the back section of the femur to the front section of the tibia. This helps to keep the femur in its proper position within the knee, and also is a commonly injured ligament. It functions to stabilize the knee during cutting and pivoting activities such as sports.
  • Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL): The PCL is a large, strong ligament that mirrors the ACL. This ligament connects the front of the femur to the back of the tibia and crosses the ACL forming an “X” like cross structure. This ligament also helps to keep the femur in the correct place in relation to the tibia.
  • Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL): This ligament can be found on the innermost section of the knee and helps to stabilize the joint during sideways motions.
  • Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL): The LCL mirrors the MCL and can be found on the outermost section of the knee. It functions similarly to the MCL as well, by stabilizing the knee joint during side-to-side motions.

Tendons in the Knee:

The muscles that help to give the knee joint strength and mobility are connected to the bones of the knee by tendons. The main tendons around the knee are the hamstrings which allow the knee to bend, and the quadriceps and patellar tendons which allow the knee to straighten.

Muscles in the Knee:

There are technically no muscles found within the main structure of the knee anatomy, however, there are many muscles that connect to the knee and provide strength and stability to the joint. These muscles include:

  • Hamstring muscles: a group of muscles found on the back of the thigh.
  • Quadriceps muscles: a group of muscles found on the front of the thigh.
  • Gluteal muscles: a group of muscles, including the largest muscle in the body, found above the hamstring muscles.

What are common knee injuries?

Dr. Lamplot treats the following knee injuries:

Knee Expert

The knee is the largest and most complex joint in the human body. The knee’s ability to flex, extend, distribute weight, and twist side to side makes it flexible but vulnerable to injury. Some of the most common injuries of the knee include ACL tears, MCL tears, and meniscus tears. Knee specialist, Doctor Joseph D. Lamplot, provides diagnosis as well as surgical and nonsurgical treatment options for patients in Arlington Heights, Kildeer, Lake Zurich, Barrington, and the surrounding Northwest Suburbs of Chicago, IL who have suffered a knee injury. Contact Dr. Lamplot’s team today!