Anatomy of the Knee

By

Anatomy of the Knee Joint

Please watch this Anatomy of the Knee Video.  

To read a related article about Knee Anatomy, please go to this article knee anatomy or knee ligaments.

The knee is the body’s largest joint. It’s the place where three bones meet: the tibia, the femur and the patella. The knee is a “hinge” joint. It allows the leg to bend in one direction only. Let’s take a closer look at the main parts of the knee’s anatomy.

• Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL).
• Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL).
• Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL).
• Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL).

The ACL is the most commonly injured of the 4 major ligaments.  This ligament is often injured in sports like football.  The ACL provides internal stability and helps to prevent hyperextension and excessive rotation at the knee.

The PCL also provides internal stability.  It helps to prevent the lower leg from sliding too far backwards in relation to the thigh. It is often injured in car accidents when the knee hits the dashboard.

The MCL runs from the inside portion of the lower thigh to the upper inside of the lower leg.  It helps to keep the knee from collapsing inward.  The MCL often heals without having surgery but surgery can be an option with a 3 degree tear.

The LCL runs form the outside portion of the lower thigh to the upper outside of the lower leg.  It helps to keep the knee from collapsing outward.  The LCL injury is not as common as the other knee ligaments.

The unhappy triad injury to the knee is when the ACL, Medical Meniscus and the PCL are all injured at the same time.

Images of the Anatomy of the knee.

 

When Should You See A Doctor?

All JOI Physicians, Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists now offer Telemedicine services for virtual visits from the convenience of your home. If you feel that it is best to stay in your own home during this time. In addition, watch this video about why you should not wait if you have knee pain, please watch: KNEE PAIN CAN’T WAIT!

Related Articles: Knee Anatomy,  Anatomy of the Hip Joint and Anatomy of the Spine.

To learn more about Direct Access to Physical Therapy without seeing an MD, please read this ARTICLE.

Please watch this video on How To Put On a Medial Unloader Brace.

JOI and JOI Rehab

JOI Physicians continue to offer online new patient appointments. This is another option to make it more convenient to make new patient appointments with less phone hold times. Follow the link below to select your JOI MD and schedule online.

You can still call 904-JOI-2000 to make new patient JOI Physician Appointments if that is your preference.

New to JOI, you can now make and cancel physician follow-up visits on the JOI Patient Portal. 

To make appointments with JOI Rehab, please call 904-858-7045.

By: Tim Wall MS, ATC