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There are three bones in the knee joint: the end of the femur or thighbone, the end of the tibia or shinbone, and the patella or knee cap. This animation shows how the bones of the knee work together to form the joint.
The knee joint is the junction of three bones:
The patella is a small, flat bone that floats in front of the knee joint. The patella moves within a groove between the two condyles of the femur. Your patella protects other knee structures and applies leverage to help straighten the joint.
- the thighbone, or femur
- the shin bone, or tibia, the larger front bone of your calf
- the kneecap, or patella.
The patella is a small, flat bone that floats in front of the knee joint. The patella moves within a groove between the two condyles of the femur. Your patella protects other knee structures and applies leverage to help straighten the joint.
Continue Learning about Parts of The Skeletal System
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