Knee anatomy - the bones from the side

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

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

The position of the patella relative to the groove in the cartilage surface of the femur changes as the knee is bent. In the straight knee it lies above the groove and can be wiggled from side to side. As the knee is bent it enters the groove of the femur and becomes stable.

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