Knee Anatomy
The healthy knee is a hinge joint. The three bones that form the knee
are the thighbone (femur), shinbone (tibia), and kneecap (patella). The
femur and tibia are held together by ligaments, which are strong bands
of tissue that stabilize the joint. The end of the femur, the top of
the tibia, and the back of the patella are covered with a tough tissue
called articular cartilage. This cartilage acts like a natural shock
absorber, preventing both bone on bone contact and providing a smooth,
pain-free surface for the bones to glide against. The knee also
contains synovial membranes, which produce synovial fluid to help
lubricate and nourish the articular cartilage.
Normal Knee
Arthritic Knee
Knee articular cartilage can be compared to the tread of an automobile
tire, very durable but susceptible to wear over time. Osteoarthritis is
the degenerative process, which results in the wearing out of this
articular cartilage. As we age, the tread surface slowly erodes until
the underlying bone is exposed. This exposed bone can be painful when
the joint moves and bears weight.
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