Anatomy Of The Knee

The knee joint is among the strongest, largest and most complex joints of the body. The healthy knee joint is a remarkable mechanism. It is formed by the bottom end of the femur (thigh bone), the top end of the tibia (shin bone) and the patella (knee cap). A healthy knee joint has cartilage between the bones that acts as padding. This padding helps assure a gliding movement of the knee that is both effortless and smooth. The healthy knee joint also has a joint capsule which houses the synovial membrane. This membrane produces lubricating fluid which contributes to the smooth movement of the knee.

Whenever you walk, sit, squat, turn around, drive or perform many other seemingly simple movements, you are depending on the knee for support and mobility. The human knee is designed to withstand a lifetime of stressful activity. However, sometimes arthritis intrudes, interfering with the knee’s ability to cushion the body from stress, and eventually causing the pain that dramatically erodes quality of life.