Knee Anatomy Basic Terminology

Knee allows how many degrees of flexion

120 Degrees

Ligament that prevents hyperextension of the knee

Anterior Cruciate Ligament

Small pockets of synovial fluid that surround the knee to reduce the friction from movements of tendons across the surface of the joint

Bursae

Otherwise known as the thigh bone, is the heaviest, strongest, longest bone in the entire human body

Femur

Name the bones forming the knee joint

Femur, Tibia, and Patella

Long this lateral bone of the leg that runs parallel to the Tibia

Fibula

Ligament that binds the lateral side of the Femur to the fibula

Lateral Collateral Ligament

Found on the upper end of the Tibia, has a concave surface and unites with the condyles of the Femur on the lateral side of the knee

Lateral Condyle of the Tibia

A large round bump at the distal end of the Femur

Lateral Femoral Condyle

Cartilage that lies between the joint where the femur and tibia articulate on the outside of the knee

Lateral Meniscus

Ligament that connects the medial side of the Femur to the Tibia

Medial Collateral Ligament

Found on the upper end of the Tibia, has a concave surface and unites with the condyles of the Femur on the medial side of the knee

Medial Condyle of the Tibia

A large round bump at the distal end of the Femur Medial to the knee, helps form part of the knee joint

Medial Femoral Condyle

Cartilage that lies between the joint where the femur and tibia articulate on the inside of the knee

Medial Meniscus

A figure eight shaped layer of tough, rubbery fiber cartilage that is found in between the Femur and the Tibia

Meniscus

Acts as a shock absorber inside the knee to prevent the collision of leg bones during strenuous activities

Meniscus

Ligaments that posteriorly join the Femur to the Tibia and Fibula of the lower leg

Oblique Popliteal Ligament and Arcuate Popliteal Ligament

Lies in front of the Femur on the anterior surface of the knee with its smooth joint forming processes on its posterior surface facing the Femur

Patella

The ligament that holds the Patella anteriorly

Patellar Ligament

Ligament that prevents the posterior movement of the Tibia relative to the Femur

Posterior Cruciate Ligament

The larger and stronger of the two leg bones otherwise known as the shin bone

Tibia

Knee is also known as

Tibiofemoral joint

Connects the medial and lateral meniscus on their anterior ends

Transverse ligament of the knee