The many structures of the knee make the joint vulnerable to injuries.
Knee injuries are commonly diagnosed using X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests.
Illustration by Tara Anand for Verywell Health
Bones of the Knee
The knee joint contains three bones.
Illustration by Tara Anand for Verywell Health
The femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin bone) meet at the knee joint.
The patella (kneecap) sits in front of it.
Common bone injuries in the knee joint include fractures and dislocations.
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Fractures, dislocations, subluxations, and signs of arthritis can be seen on X-rays.
The image here is a front-to-back view of a healthy knee joint.
This is also known as the anteroposterior (AP) view.
Image © Jonathan Cluett, MD
Articular and Meniscus Cartilage
The knee bones are lined with a smooth cover known as articular cartilage.
This is a slippery substance that helps the bones glide as the joint moves.
Two wedge-shaped pieces ofmeniscus cartilagesit between the articular cartilage of the femur and tibia.
Image © Medical Multimedia Group
The meniscus acts like a shock absorber.
Meniscal tears are a common sports injury, but can also be brought on by arthritis or aging.
When people talk about knee cartilage, they may be talking abouteither the meniscus cartilage or the articular cartilage.
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Knee Arthritis
Arthritis is a condition that causes pain and inflammation in joints.
Many differenttypes of arthritiscan occur in the knees, the most common of which is calledosteoarthritis.
This causes pain, stiffness, and trouble moving.
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Knee Replacement
Knee replacement surgeryis commonly used to treat pain and mobility issues because of severe arthritis.
Harvard Health Publishing.X-ray may be best screening tool for diagnosing knee pain.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: OrthoInfo.Common knee injuries.
Science Photo Library - DR P. MARAZZI/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
Carr AJ, Robertsson O, Graves S, et al.Knee replacement.The Lancet.
2013;48(6):810-817. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-48.6.03
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