Knee Anatomy: Know about your Knee!

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Though each joint contributes to our physical capabilities, the knee is the most vital, biggest and complex joints in the human body.

It is a hinge joint that is responsible for weight-bearing and movement. Knee joint includes two major articulations - the tibio-femoral joint and the patello-femoral joint. It connects your thigh bone (femur) to your shin bone (tibia). It helps you stand, move and keep your balance.

Your knee joint is made up of femur, tibia, patella, articular cartilage, menisci, ligaments, and tendons.

Patella: The patella, commonly known as the kneecap, is a small, triangular bone located at the front of your knee joint. It is one of the many parts that make up the knee joint. It's the biggest bone in your body embedded in a tendon. It plays a crucial role in protecting the knee and makes it easier for your thigh muscles to extend your legs more effectively.

Articular Cartilage: The surfaces of the bones are covered with articular cartilage - A rubber-like padding that coats bones and allows them to glide at joints. Cartilage also provides support in areas where flexibility is needed and resists compressive forces.

Meniscus: A C-shaped piece of cartilage that acts as a shock absorber between the bones of the knee joint. The meniscus plays an important role in distributing the load to protect the articular cartilage during various activities.

Ligaments: Ligaments are tough, fibrous bands of tissue that connect bones to other bones, providing stability and support to joints. In the knee, ligaments play a critical role in maintaining joint stability and ensuring smooth, controlled movement. There are four main ligaments in the knee:

Tendons: Tendons are strong, fibrous connective tissues that attach muscles to bones, allowing movement and stability.

Bursae: The knee is a synovial joint, it contains 12-14 fluid-filled sacs called Bursa that reduce friction and prevent inflammation. It functions to decrease friction between tendons, bone, and skin during movement. There are four main Bursae found in the knee joint:

Importance of the Knee Joint

  • Weight-bearing: The knee supports the body’s weight during standing, walking, running, and other activities. It endures significant stress, especially during movement.
  • Mobility and Flexibility: It enables a wide range of motion, including bending, straightening, and slight rotation, essential for walking, sitting, and squatting.
  • Shock Absorption: The cartilage and ligaments within the knee act as shock absorbers, protecting the bones from impact during high-stress activities like jumping and running.
  • Balance and Stability: The knee helps maintain balance while standing and moving. It provides structural support for the body, helping to maintain an upright posture and facilitate various physical activities.

The knee is designed to fulfill the following functions:

  1. Flexion and Extension: The knee allows the leg to bend (flexion) and straighten (extension), essential for activities like walking, running, sitting, and climbing.
  2. Rotation: The knee permits a limited degree of internal and external rotation, which helps with twisting motions and stabilizing the body during movement.

Now, what is important to understand that the knee is prone to injuries due to its complex movements and the thin skin covering front and sides. Any injury to the knee or a direct blow to the knee is a serious injury and requires immediate medical attention, especially for those active in sports. Degenerative joint disease (DJD) is the most common form of knee disorder.

Understanding how your knee works is the key to keeping it injury-free, strong and healthy. By learning about its anatomy, you can take steps to prevent injuries and conditions like Osteoarthritis.

Remember, with the right care, awareness, and preventative measures, you can maintain knee health and ensure it supports you for years to come.

Upcoming blog: Synovial Fluid: The Silent Protector of Your Joints

Cj 

“Keep your knees strong and healthy—they’re key to keeping you moving through life!”

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