Knee Structure

The knee is a very complex structure and an essential joint that needs to be fully functioning for all athletes. It is one of the most complicated structures and the largest joint in our body (Marieb & Hoehn, 2013). The ligaments are what keep the knee in place and allow us to move and be mobile. This structure is also the most vulnerable because it is the part of our body that bears the most weight and pressure and needs to be flexible in order to maintain its purpose. We need our knees to support our body weight, have the ability to perform a squat and even something as simple as walking (Sanville, Nicholson, & Driscoll, 1994). The main parts of the knee are bones, ligaments, tendons, cartilages, and a joint capsule. All of these parts of the knee are made of collagen, which is fibrous tissue and continues to break down as the body goes through the aging process (Marieb & Hoehn, 2013). Since the knee bears so much weight and does not have much protection from stress and other trauma, this structure is at a higher risk for injuries (Sanville, Nicholson & Driscoll, 1994). Because the knee is so vulnerable, it is …show more content…
Ligaments are what attach bone to bone and provide strength and stability to the knee. Ligaments are tough and strong bands that are not generally flexible. When the ligament is stretched it usually tends to stay stretched until it is eventually snapped because it cannot shrink back down to its original length. The ligaments of the knee are the medial collateral ligament, lateral collateral ligament, anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament and the patellar ligament. The collateral ligaments are what keep the knee from moving medial or lateral too much (Sanville, Nicholson, & Driscoll, 1994). The cruciate ligaments criss-cross one another over the center of the knee. These are the ligaments that allow the tibia to move forward and backward under the