The knee is a hinge joint and is the largest in the human body. It is made up of the femur and tibia, with a smaller fibula located to the outer aspect.
The fibula functions largely as an attachment point for ligaments. The thigh musculature consists of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles, and the lower leg contains the popliteus and gastrocnemius muscles. Flexible meniscus fibro-cartilage supports the curved femoral faces on the relatively flat tibial plateau surfaces (pictured below, click to make larger).
Tougher ligaments attach the two together and consist of the outer collaterals (medial and lateral ligaments) and the inner cruciates (anterior and posterior cruciates). (Pictured below, click to make larger). Continue Reading »