The knee is the largest joint in the body. A hinge joint, the knee is made up of three bones, two different types of cartilage, and four ligaments. The many structures of the knee make the joint vulnerable to injuries.Knee injuries are commonly diagnosed using X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests.This article contains pictures of the knee joint, including X-rays, diagrams, and real images of knee injuries.
The knee is the largest joint in the body. A hinge joint, the knee is made up of three bones, two different types of cartilage, and four ligaments. The many structures of the knee make the joint vulnerable to injuries.
Knee injuries are commonly diagnosed using X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests.
This article contains pictures of the knee joint, including X-rays, diagrams, and real images of knee injuries.
1Bones of the KneeScience Picture Co / Getty ImagesThe knee joint contains three bones. The femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin bone) meet at the knee joint. The patella (kneecap) sits in front of it.Common bone injuries in the knee joint include fractures and dislocations.
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Bones of the KneeScience Picture Co / Getty ImagesThe knee joint contains three bones. The femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin bone) meet at the knee joint. The patella (kneecap) sits in front of it.Common bone injuries in the knee joint include fractures and dislocations.
Bones of the Knee
Science Picture Co / Getty Images
The knee joint contains three bones. The femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin bone) meet at the knee joint. The patella (kneecap) sits in front of it.
Common bone injuries in the knee joint include fractures and dislocations.
2Knee X-Ray: Anteroposterior (AP) ViewImage © Jonathan Cluett, MDAn X-ray is one of the most common imaging tests used to diagnose knee problems.X-rays are used to show bones and joint spacing. Fractures, dislocations, subluxations, and signs of arthritis can be seen on X-rays.The image here is a front-to-back view of a healthy knee joint. This is also known as the anteroposterior (AP) view.
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Knee X-Ray: Anteroposterior (AP) ViewImage © Jonathan Cluett, MDAn X-ray is one of the most common imaging tests used to diagnose knee problems.X-rays are used to show bones and joint spacing. Fractures, dislocations, subluxations, and signs of arthritis can be seen on X-rays.The image here is a front-to-back view of a healthy knee joint. This is also known as the anteroposterior (AP) view.
Knee X-Ray: Anteroposterior (AP) View
Image © Jonathan Cluett, MD
An X-ray is one of the most common imaging tests used to diagnose knee problems.X-rays are used to show bones and joint spacing. Fractures, dislocations, subluxations, and signs of arthritis can be seen on X-rays.
The image here is a front-to-back view of a healthy knee joint. This is also known as the anteroposterior (AP) view.
3Knee X-Ray: Lateral ViewImage © Medical Multimedia GroupWhile an AP X-ray looks from the front to the back of the knee joint, a lateral view looks at the joint from the side.Lateral X-rays are particularly helpful in seeing the kneecap, or patella, and the cartilage space behind the kneecap.
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Knee X-Ray: Lateral ViewImage © Medical Multimedia GroupWhile an AP X-ray looks from the front to the back of the knee joint, a lateral view looks at the joint from the side.Lateral X-rays are particularly helpful in seeing the kneecap, or patella, and the cartilage space behind the kneecap.
Knee X-Ray: Lateral View
Image © Medical Multimedia Group
While an AP X-ray looks from the front to the back of the knee joint, a lateral view looks at the joint from the side.
Lateral X-rays are particularly helpful in seeing the kneecap, or patella, and the cartilage space behind the kneecap.
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Articular and Meniscus Cartilage
SPRINGER MEDIZIN / Getty Images
The knee bones are lined with a smooth cover known as articular cartilage. This is a slippery substance that helps the bones glide as the joint moves.
Two wedge-shaped pieces ofmeniscus cartilagesit between the articular cartilage of the femur and tibia. The meniscus acts like a shock absorber.
When people talk about knee cartilage, they may be talking abouteither the meniscus cartilage or the articular cartilage.
5Anterior Cruciate LigamentJeannot Olivet / Getty ImagesFour ligaments act as strong ropes to keep the knee stable:The medial (inside) and lateral (outside) collateral ligaments control side-to-side movements.The anterior (front) and posterior (rear) cruciate ligaments control front-to-back motions.In this image, the practitioner points to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).ACL tears are a common knee injury that occurs from quickly changing direction or landing from a jump incorrectly.ACL injuries are more common in soccer, football, and basketball and often involve damage to other structures in the knee.Common Causes of Knee Pain
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Anterior Cruciate LigamentJeannot Olivet / Getty ImagesFour ligaments act as strong ropes to keep the knee stable:The medial (inside) and lateral (outside) collateral ligaments control side-to-side movements.The anterior (front) and posterior (rear) cruciate ligaments control front-to-back motions.In this image, the practitioner points to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).ACL tears are a common knee injury that occurs from quickly changing direction or landing from a jump incorrectly.ACL injuries are more common in soccer, football, and basketball and often involve damage to other structures in the knee.Common Causes of Knee Pain
Anterior Cruciate Ligament
Jeannot Olivet / Getty Images
Four ligaments act as strong ropes to keep the knee stable:
In this image, the practitioner points to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
ACL tears are a common knee injury that occurs from quickly changing direction or landing from a jump incorrectly.ACL injuries are more common in soccer, football, and basketball and often involve damage to other structures in the knee.
Common Causes of Knee Pain
6Knee ArthritisScience Photo Library - DR P. MARAZZI/Brand X Pictures/Getty ImagesArthritis is a condition that causes pain and inflammation in joints.Many differenttypes of arthritiscan occur in the knees, the most common of which is calledosteoarthritis.People often use the words “wear-and-tear” to describe osteoarthritis, as it occurs when the cartilage between joints wears away. This causes pain, stiffness, and trouble moving.
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Knee ArthritisScience Photo Library - DR P. MARAZZI/Brand X Pictures/Getty ImagesArthritis is a condition that causes pain and inflammation in joints.Many differenttypes of arthritiscan occur in the knees, the most common of which is calledosteoarthritis.People often use the words “wear-and-tear” to describe osteoarthritis, as it occurs when the cartilage between joints wears away. This causes pain, stiffness, and trouble moving.
Knee Arthritis
Science Photo Library - DR P. MARAZZI/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
Arthritis is a condition that causes pain and inflammation in joints.
Many differenttypes of arthritiscan occur in the knees, the most common of which is calledosteoarthritis.
People often use the words “wear-and-tear” to describe osteoarthritis, as it occurs when the cartilage between joints wears away. This causes pain, stiffness, and trouble moving.
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Knee Replacement
P. Marazzi / Getty Images
During the procedure, damaged cartilage and bone are removed and replaced with a new implant, made of plastic or metal (or both), to restore the function of the knee.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Harvard Health Publishing.X-ray may be best screening tool for diagnosing knee pain.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: OrthoInfo.Common knee injuries.Lee YC.Effect and treatment of chronic pain in inflammatory arthritis.Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2013;15(1):300. doi:10.1007/s11926-012-0300-4Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Osteoarthritis.Carr AJ, Robertsson O, Graves S, et al.Knee replacement.The Lancet. 2012;379(9823):1331-1340. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(11)60752-6American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Total knee replacement.Additional ReadingJoseph AM, Collins CL, Henke NM, Yard EE, Fields SK, Comstock RD.A multisport epidemiologic comparison of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in high school athletics.J Athl Train. 2013;48(6):810-817. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-48.6.03
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Harvard Health Publishing.X-ray may be best screening tool for diagnosing knee pain.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: OrthoInfo.Common knee injuries.Lee YC.Effect and treatment of chronic pain in inflammatory arthritis.Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2013;15(1):300. doi:10.1007/s11926-012-0300-4Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Osteoarthritis.Carr AJ, Robertsson O, Graves S, et al.Knee replacement.The Lancet. 2012;379(9823):1331-1340. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(11)60752-6American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Total knee replacement.Additional ReadingJoseph AM, Collins CL, Henke NM, Yard EE, Fields SK, Comstock RD.A multisport epidemiologic comparison of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in high school athletics.J Athl Train. 2013;48(6):810-817. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-48.6.03
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Harvard Health Publishing.X-ray may be best screening tool for diagnosing knee pain.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: OrthoInfo.Common knee injuries.Lee YC.Effect and treatment of chronic pain in inflammatory arthritis.Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2013;15(1):300. doi:10.1007/s11926-012-0300-4Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Osteoarthritis.Carr AJ, Robertsson O, Graves S, et al.Knee replacement.The Lancet. 2012;379(9823):1331-1340. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(11)60752-6American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Total knee replacement.
Harvard Health Publishing.X-ray may be best screening tool for diagnosing knee pain.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: OrthoInfo.Common knee injuries.
Lee YC.Effect and treatment of chronic pain in inflammatory arthritis.Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2013;15(1):300. doi:10.1007/s11926-012-0300-4
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Osteoarthritis.
Carr AJ, Robertsson O, Graves S, et al.Knee replacement.The Lancet. 2012;379(9823):1331-1340. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(11)60752-6
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Total knee replacement.
Joseph AM, Collins CL, Henke NM, Yard EE, Fields SK, Comstock RD.A multisport epidemiologic comparison of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in high school athletics.J Athl Train. 2013;48(6):810-817. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-48.6.03
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