Anatomy

Anatomy of the knee

The knee is the largest and one of the most complex joints in the human body. It is made up of cartilage, bone, two menisci, two cruciate ligaments, collateral ligaments, bursae, muscles, tendons and the kneecap. Each of the structures could individually be the cause of the pain, a functional defect or other complaint. The complexity of the knee joint makes it susceptible to acute injuries caused by running, jumping and other sports activities. Moreover, the forces that must be absorbed by the knee joint are substantial, which means strain injuries and wear and tear are very common.

Video: Anatomy of the knee

This content was written by : Dr. Paul Gunst, Dr. Thomas Luyckx, Dr. Lieven Missinne, Dr. Jan Noyez, Dr. Peter Stuer, Dr. Alexander Ryckaert, Dr. Luc Van den Daelen, Dr. Philip Winnock de Grave