1. Anatomy of the Knee

2. Bony

3. Femur The longest bone in the body The only bone of the thigh
Distal end articulates with the tibia to form the knee
Proximal end articulates with the pelvis to form the hip

4. Patella Largest sesmoid bone in the body
Embedded in the patellar tendon
Gives Quadriceps a mechanical advantage by providing a fulcrum

5. Tibia and Fibula
The proximal end of the fibula serves as an attachment point for ligaments of the knee, but has nothing to do with the acutal mechanics of the knee
The proximal end of the tibia (tibial plateau) articulates with the femur to form the knee joint

6. Muscular

7. Quadriceps Group of four muscles on the anterior aspect of the thigh
All four of them act to extend the knee
The rectus femoris also acts to flex the hip
All join to form the patellar tendon

8. Sartorius Longest muscle in the body
Acts to flex and externally rotate the thigh and to flex and and medially rotate the knee
“tailor’s muscle”

9. Hamstrings Group of three muscles on the posterior aspect of the thigh
All of them act to flex the knee
Two of them also extend the hip

10. Medial thigh muscles The adductors or groin muscles
Act to adduct the thigh

11. The knee has four main ligaments
The two collateral ligaments sit on the medial and lateral aspects of the knee joint
The two cruciate ligaments sit inside the knee joint and form a cross

12. Collateral Ligaments
The medial collateral ligament (MCL) runs from the femur to the tibia on the medial aspect of the knee
Prevents excessive valgus forces on the knee

13. Collateral Ligaments
The lateral collateral ligament (LCL) runs from the femur to the fibula on the lateral aspect of the knee
Prevents excessive varus forces on the knee

14. Cruciate Ligaments
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) runs from the anterior tiba to the posterior femur
Prevents the the anterior displacement of the tibia on the femur

15. Cruciate Ligaments
Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) runs from the posterior tiba to the anterior femur
Prevents the posterior displacement of the tibia on the femur

16. Menisci
Two semi-circle pieces of cartilage that sit on the tibial plateau
In cross section they are pie-shaped
They act to deepen the articulating surface between the femur and tibia, as shock absorbers & evenly distribute the synovial fluid