Knee Joint Anatomy

Your knee joint is the largest joint in your body, allowing your lower leg to move while supporting your body’s weight. Movement at the knee joints is essential to many everyday activities, including walking, running, sitting, and standing.

The knee joint is formed by separate bones that are connected by thick bands of tissue called ligaments. The knee is made up of three main parts: the lower end of the thigh bone (femur), upper end of the shin bone (tibia), and the kneecap (patella).

Chronic knee pain is caused by injury and diseases like arthritis, which may be relieved by replacement of this joint with an artificial joint (prosthesis), which is designed to move like a normal, healthy joint. Be sure to ask a member of your orthopedic care team if you have any questions.