Knee
Knee
Knee (/ni:/) is a joint in the human body where the thigh bone (Femur) meets the shin bone (Tibia). The knee is one of the largest and most complex joints in the body, playing a crucial role in movement related to walking, running, and jumping.
Etymology
The term "knee" comes from the Old English word "cneow", which has cognates in other Germanic languages. The exact etymology is unknown, but it is believed to be of Proto-Indo-European origin, related to the word "knee" in several other Indo-European languages.
Anatomy
The knee joint consists of several important components:
- Femur: The thigh bone, which is the longest bone in the human body.
- Tibia: The shin bone, which is the second longest bone.
- Patella: Also known as the kneecap, it is a small bone that protects the knee joint.
- Meniscus: Two C-shaped pieces of cartilage that act as shock absorbers between the femur and tibia.
- Ligaments: Bands of tissue that connect bones to other bones. The knee has four main ligaments: the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), and lateral collateral ligament (LCL).
Related Terms
- Arthritis: A condition that causes inflammation and pain in the joints, including the knee.
- Osteoarthritis: A type of arthritis that occurs when the protective cartilage on the ends of bones wears down over time.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: A chronic inflammatory disorder that can affect more than just your joints.
- Knee replacement: A surgical procedure to replace the weight-bearing surfaces of the knee joint to relieve pain and disability.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Knee
- Wikipedia's article - Knee
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski