Guide to basic Knee Anatomy - The Bones
This lesson will cover the anatomy of the knee that is tailored to accompany a series about different types and methods of total knee replacements (TKR). As such, certain aspects of the knee will be discussed in much more depth than other aspects. Also, most basic biology concepts not necessary for a TKR will not be covered (e.g. compositions of bones, layers of skin, etc.). By the end of this guide, one should have a working knowledge of the structural components of the knee, and will have enough anatomy knowledge to closely follow and understand a TKR.
Bones of the Knee
The bones of the knee are the physical building blocks of one of the largest and most complex joints in the body. As a result, they include a couple of the largest bones in the body, and are vital to proper function of the legs. Here we cover the bones found in the knee in order from top to bottom.
The first of the four bones covered in this lesson is the femur. The femur is one of the largest bones in the body, and extends from the hip down to the middle of the knee joint. In this lesson, the important part of the femur are all parts from the bone shaft (middle part of the femur) to the condyle (knobby ends of the femur). Use the graphic below for reference.
The first and largest part of the femur is the body of the femur, also called the shaft. This is the long, thinnest part of the femur that extends to the knobby epicondyle.
