Introduction to the Knee

– The knee joint is one the the largest and most complex joints in the body. – It is made up of 4 bones and several muscles and ligaments. 

– The structure of the knee allows for flexion (bend) and extension (straighten) and a small amount of rotation. 

– The femur (thigh bone), the tibia (shin bone) and the patella (kneecap) are the bones that form the knee joint. 

– Ligaments in the knee connect the bones together and maintain the stability of the knee. – The 4 ligaments of the knee are the medial collateral ligament (MCL), lateral collateral ligament (LCL), anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). 

– Menisci increase the area of contact between the tibia and femur and improve weight distribution and shock absorption. 

– The knee has 2 menisci – the medial meniscus and the lateral meniscus. – Muscles that help flex (bend) the knee include: 

– The hamstring, which is made up of the biceps femoris, semimembranosus, and semitendinosus; gracilis, sartorius, popliteus, gastrocnemius, and tensor fascia latae 

– Muscles that help extend (straighten) the knee include: 

– The quadriceps, which is made up of the rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, and vastus lateralis; tensor fascia latae 

– Did you know? 

– The compressive load through the knee can be 1-2 times the body weight during walking and stair climbing and 3-4 times the body weight during running. 

For more information, reach out to ProTailored Physical Therapy or call us at (260)739-0300.