Knee anatomy - the bones from above

• 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

To fully evaluate the kneecap and its relationship to the femur below it, one needs to look at the bones from above. It is easy to relate to this view, as it is the view you yourself get of the knees when sitting down.

When the knee is bent, the undersurface of the patella (kneecap) lies in the trochlear groove. The patella should be central in the groove, and not favouring one or other side, and it should not be tilted. The sides of the patella and the walls of the groove should be almost parallel.

The surgeon can also look down on this region during arthroscopy, where he can get a superb opportunity to see how the patella glides in the trochlea.