Guide to ACL Injury
Your Knee
The knee joint is a complex structure designed to allow normal function whilst withstanding the huge stresses we put through it during everyday activities and sport.
The main weight bearing part of the joint is formed between the two rounded ‘condyles’ on the end of the femur (the thigh bone) and the flatter top surface of the tibia (the shin bone).
The menisci are made of fibro-cartilage and sit on top of the tibial condyles, they act rather like spacers and shock absorbers within the joint and their shape adds to the congruency of the joint. The ‘medial’ meniscus is situated on the inner side of the joint while the ‘lateral’ meniscus is on the outer side.
The medial meniscus is more firmly attached to the tibia, is less mobile and consequently is more prone to injury than the lateral meniscus.
The space between the condyles of the femur is called the ‘intercondylar notch’; this provides the surface attachments for two of the main ligaments in the knee. The notch extends forwards forming a groove at the front of the bone (the trochlea); the kneecap (patella) is situated at the front of the knee and is shaped to sit and glide in the trochlea during movement of the joint.
