Knee anatomy - the bones from the side

From the side of the knee one can better appreciate the position of the patella (kneecap) in relation to the underlying femur.

ANATOMY OVERVIEW anatomy intro bones from front (bent knee) bones from front (straight knee) bones from side bones from above patella capsule collateral ligaments cruciate ligaments medial plica meniscus from side meniscus from top muscles from front muscles from back

Note that when the leg is straight, the patella lies above the joint line of femur and tibia.

The position of the patella relative to the joint line (between femur and tibia) changes as the knee is bent. In the straight knee it lies over the femur some distance from the joint line. As the knee is bent it enters the groove of the femur and rides closer to the joint line.

The fibula is on the lateral (outer) side and does not communicate directly with the knee joint.