KNEE TABLE OF CONTENTS

Arthritis of the Knee Joint

ANATOMY OF THE NORMAL KNEE JOINT

The knee is a "hinge type" joint which is formed by two bones held together by flexible ligaments. The bones are the femur (thigh bone) and the tibia (shin bone). The knee cap (patella) also forms part of the knee joint. It glides over the end of the femur as the knee bends. The moving parts of a normal knee are covered with a layer of articular cartilage which is a white smooth substance about 1/4 of an inch thick on the patella and 1/8 of an inch thick on the femur and tibia. An x-ray of the knee normally shows space (the "joint space") between the femur and the tibia as well as between the femur and the patella. This is not empty space but represents the cartilage (which does not show up on x-rays). The smooth, cartilage-covered surfaces of the knee move on each other with very little friction in the normal joint. In the normal knee the "joint space" is approximately 1/4 of an inch wide and fairly even in outline.

An X-Ray and Illustration Showing a Normal Knee Joint

On to the Next Section of the Manual
Diseases of the Knee Joint

How to Become an Orthopedic Surgeon

Dr. H.D. Huddleston
The Hip and Knee Institute
5525 Etiwanda Ave., #324
Tarzana, CA 91356
Tel: 818.708.9090

Medical Website Design by HealthPresence

Site Last Updated: