Do You Know Your Knee?
A lot hinges on your KNEES Your knee is the biggest joint in your body and has the biggest job to - supporting your body and providing flexibility. The knee is the most weight-bearing joint in the human body. The knee is made up of several complex and sensitive parts. Your knee has: Bones Cartilage Muscles Ligaments Tendons The knee connects the lower end of the thighbone (femur) to the upper end of the shinbone (tibia). Several large ligaments - strong, elastic bands of tissue that join bone to bone - make this connection, bracing and controlling the motion of the joint. The kneecap (patella) slides in a groove at the end of the thighbone; it protects the knee and gives leverage to various leg muscles. Cartilage at the ends of the leg bones helps to cushion the joint, like a shock absorber. The Knee Joint is not blessed with sturdiness when compared to the hip, which has a ball-and-socket joint: The knobby top of the femur fits securely into a deep socket in the pelvis.