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The knee is the body's largest joint, allowing the legs to bend and move. It is a complex network of bones, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and muscles. The knee joint is formed by the femur (thigh bone), tibia (shin bone), and patella (kneecap). The quadricep muscles, located at the front of the thigh, straighten the knee. The hamstrings, located on the back of the thigh, bend the knee. The knee joint also contains two cruciate ligaments that control the knee's front-to-back movement. The knee's anatomy is intricate, with many components working together to enable essential functions such as walking, running, and jumping.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Muscles are soft tissue made of stretchy fibres. |
| Function | Muscles tense up (flex) to pull and move parts of your body. |
| Types | Flexors, extensors, hamstrings, quadriceps, gastrocnemius, soleus, biceps femoris, articularis genus, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, vastus medialis |
| Location | Knees contain muscles. The knee is the joint in the middle of your leg where the thigh bone (femur) meets the shin bone (tibia). |
| Nerves | Femoral nerve, sciatic nerve, tibial nerve, peroneal nerve |
| Tendons | Patellar tendon, quadriceps tendon |
| Cartilage | Articular cartilage, meniscus |
| Injuries | Tendinitis, meniscus tears, hyperextended knees, bone fractures, dislocations, patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) |
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What You'll Learn
Knee joint anatomy
The knee joint is one of the body's largest and most complex joints. It is a bi-condylar type of synovial joint, which mainly allows for flexion and extension, as well as a small degree of medial and lateral rotation. The knee joint is constructed by four bones and an extensive network of ligaments and muscles.
The knee joint is formed by the connection of the femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin bone) at the tibiofemoral joint. The patella (kneecap) sits on top of this joint in a groove in the front of the femur, forming the patellofemoral joint. This allows the patella to move up and down, bending and straightening the knee. The patella also acts as a fulcrum for the quadriceps muscle, allowing it to function properly.
The femur and tibia are covered in articular cartilage, an extremely hard and smooth substance that decreases friction forces. The medial and lateral condyles of the femur articulate with the tibia to form the tibiofemoral joint. The tibia has two asymmetrical condyles, the medial and lateral tibial plateaus, which are relatively flat. The medial tibial plateau is much longer than the lateral anteroposteriorly.
The knee joint also contains two menisci, cushion-like structures that act as shock absorbers during activities such as running, jumping, and walking. They help distribute body weight evenly across the knee joint. The menisci are connected to the tibia by coronary ligaments, with the medial meniscus less mobile during joint motion due to its firm attachment to the knee joint capsule and medial collateral ligament (MCL). The MCL resists forces acting on the outer surface of the knee and resists lateral rotation of the tibia on the femur.
The knee joint is controlled by many muscles, including the hamstrings, which attach at the base of the femur and top of the tibia, and the quadriceps, which attach at the base of the femur above the knee joint. The hamstrings control flexion or bending of the knee and provide stability during extension. They also assist in internal and external rotation of the knee. The quadriceps muscle group allows the knee to straighten, which is necessary for standing from a seated position and bringing the leg forward when walking.
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Knee muscles and their functions
The knee is the largest joint in the body and is part of the skeletal system. It is a complex joint that allows for flexion and extension, as well as medial and lateral rotation. The knee joint is formed by the thigh bone (femur), the shin bone (tibia), and the kneecap (patella). These bones are covered in articular cartilage, which allows them to move smoothly with decreased friction. The femur and tibia are the main movers of the joint, allowing for the hinge motion necessary for walking, running, jumping, and climbing stairs.
Many muscles, tendons, and ligaments are involved in the knee's anatomy and function. Tendons are fibrous tissues that connect muscles to bones, allowing for movement as the muscles contract and relax. The quadriceps tendon, for example, helps initiate movement in the patella, the patellar tendon, and the tibia, allowing the lower leg to move forward. The patella is a floating bone that acts as a fulcrum for the quadriceps muscle to function properly. The patella moves up and down as the knee bends and straightens.
The hamstrings are muscles that run from the hip to just below the knee and control the flexion or bending of the knee. They also help stabilise the knee when it is extended and assist in internal and external rotation. The anterior tibialis is responsible for deceleration during activities, while the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles support the hamstrings in knee flexion and provide stability during activities such as jumping and running.
The cruciate ligaments are inside the knee joint and connect the femur to the tibia, crossing each other to form an "X". These ligaments control the front-to-back movement of the knee. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) provide stability to the knee from front to back. The medial collateral ligament (MCL) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) provide stability from the sides.
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Knee injuries and treatment
The knee is the largest joint in the body and is one of the most easily injured. It is made up of bones, cartilage, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. The knee is crucial for almost any movement that uses the legs, including walking, running, and jumping. Given the knee's role in mobility, knee injuries can be very disruptive to daily life and require immediate medical attention.
Knee injuries can be caused by awkward movements, falls, collisions, sudden twists, excessive force, or overuse. Some of the most common knee injuries include ligament sprains, fractures, dislocations, and ligament tears. Sports injuries are some of the most common knee injuries, including meniscus tears, hyperextended knees, bone fractures, dislocations, and patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS).
Mild knee injuries may heal on their own, but all injuries should be checked and diagnosed by a doctor or physiotherapist. First aid treatment for an injured knee includes stopping the activity immediately, resting the joint, and reducing pain, swelling, and internal bleeding with ice packs. The injured area should be lightly wrapped with a soft bandage, and the injury should be elevated above the heart to reduce swelling.
More severe knee injuries may require surgery. Arthroscopic, or "keyhole," surgery is often used to treat cartilage tears and ACL tears. This type of surgery involves inserting slender instruments through small incisions. In contrast, more severe injuries may require open surgery, which provides the surgeon with a more direct view and easier access to the injured structures.
To help prevent knee injuries, it is important to warm up the joints and muscles before engaging in sports or other activities. This can be done by gently going through the motions of the activity and stretching the muscles. It is also crucial to wear appropriate footwear, avoid sudden jarring motions, and turn on the balls of the feet when changing direction instead of twisting through the knees. Building up an exercise program slowly over time can also help prevent injuries.
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Bones, tendons, and ligaments of the knee
The knee joint is the largest joint in the human body. It is where the thigh bone (femur) meets the shin bone (tibia). The knee joint helps humans stand, move and balance. The knee contains bones, cartilage, muscles, ligaments, and nerves.
The knee joint is susceptible to injuries and conditions such as bone fractures, dislocations, meniscus tears, hyperextended knees, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, tendinitis, and sports injuries.
Tendons are fibrous tissues that connect muscles to bones and help initiate movement as the muscles contract and relax. For example, as you take a step forward, the quadricep muscles contract. The quadriceps tendon attached to the quadricep muscles then helps initiate movement within the patella, the patellar tendon, and tibia, moving the entire lower leg forward.
There are four main ligaments in the knee that connect the femur to the tibia. These include the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), and lateral collateral ligament (LCL). The cruciate ligaments are inside the knee joint, crossing each other to create an "X" and controlling the knee's front-to-back movement. The collateral ligaments are like straps on opposite sides of the knee, preventing the knee from moving sideways.
The knee joint also contains cartilage, which acts as a cushion and shock absorber. Hyaline cartilage is the most common type of cartilage in the body, lining the joints and capping the ends of the bones. It is slippery and smooth, helping the bones move smoothly. Fibrocartilage is tough, holding parts of the body in place and absorbing impacts. The meniscus in the knee is made of fibrocartilage, cushioning the space between the femur and tibia.
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Nerves in the knee
The knee is the joint that connects your thigh to your lower leg and is the biggest joint in the body. It contains bones, cartilage, muscles, ligaments, and nerves. Nerves are like cables that carry electrical impulses between the brain and the rest of the body, helping us to feel sensations and move our muscles.
The knee joint is where the thigh bone (femur) meets the shin bone (tibia). There are two articulations in the knee: patellofemoral, where the patella meets the femur, and the tibiofemoral, where the tibia meets the femur. The patella, or kneecap, is the third bone in the knee joint.
The nerves in the knee include the femoral nerve, the sciatic nerve, the tibial nerve, and the peroneal nerve. The peroneal nerve is a branch of the sciatic nerve and is the only nerve that passes through the knee at risk of being compressed. It travels around the outside of the knee and down the front of the leg to the foot. It supplies both sensation and movement to the outside of the lower leg and the top of the foot. The tibial nerve continues down the back of the leg.
The popliteal nerve is the most important nerve around the knee. This large nerve travels to the lower leg and foot, supplying sensation and muscle control. It splits just above the knee to form the tibial nerve and the peroneal nerve.
A pinched nerve in the knee can be caused by crossing your legs, squatting for long periods, bone fractures, knee ligament injuries, wearing a lower leg cast, a tight knee brace, or knee-high boots.
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Frequently asked questions
Knee muscles are soft tissue made of stretchy fibres. They tense up (flex) to pull and move parts of the body. The knee joint is one of the largest and most complex joints in the body and is constructed by 4 bones and an extensive network of ligaments and muscles.
The main muscles that allow the knee to perform its functions are the quadriceps, a group of four muscles that sit on the front of the thigh. These muscles are responsible for allowing the knee to straighten, which is necessary for standing from a seated position, bringing your leg forward when walking, and kicking a ball.
Other muscles that affect the knee include the hamstrings, which are muscles on the back of the thigh that run from the hip to just below the knee and work to bend the knee. The knee also contains extensors, which are muscles that work opposite to flexors and allow you to extend your knee out. The extensors that control the knee include the biceps femoris.
Tendons are where muscles attach to the bones of the knee. There are numerous tendons in the knee, including the patellar tendon and the quadriceps tendon. These tendons can be prone to injuries, including ruptures, tears, and tendonitis.
