The knee is the largest joint in the human body. It is formed by the thigh bone (femur), the shin bone (tibia), and the kneecap (patella). The knee joint can be divided into two parts: the femorotibial articulation (part between the femur and tibia) and the femoropatellar articulation (part between the femur and patella). The articular surfaces are covered with cartilage. Each knee has two C-shaped cartilage structures (lateral and medial meniscus) that smooth over irregularities on the contact surfaces of the thigh and lower leg at the joint space and act as a cushion to ensure even distribution of weight across the joint. Various ligaments connect the bones and stabilize the knee: the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, the lateral and medial collateral ligaments, and the patellar tendon between the kneecap and shin bone.
Due to the complex anatomy of the knee, a number of different knee disorders can occur due to trauma or degeneration.
The most common clinical pictures are described in detail here. |
