Knees

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    SPECIALTIES / CONDITIONS TREATMENT & CARE

    The knee joint is one of the largest joints in the body, and as such very important in helping us move. If a problem occurs with the knee, it can be very painful and make mobility challenging. The knee joint is also very complex. Bones, ligaments, tendons and cartilage work together to provide stability and movement while holding the joint together.

    Additional areas we serve:

    Seattle, BellevueKirkland, Redmond, Renton,

    Shoreline, Lynnwood, Burien, West Seattle, Sammamish

    Knee conditions can have a profound impact on quality of life and your ability to enjoy life’s activities with your family and friends. Following through on our mission of compassionate and expert care, we are dedicated to helping you overcome your injuries and conditions and return you to your active, healthy lifestyle.

    Knee Replacement

    Minimally Invasive Knee Treatments

    INFO / FACTS ABOUT YOUR KNEES

    BONES IN THE KNEE

    The femur, or thigh bone, is above the knee. Of all of the the bones in the body the femur is the heaviest, longest and largest. The tibia, or shin bone, is below the knee. It is the second longest bone in the body. A long thin bone called the fibula is attached to the tibia. The rounded ends of the femur and tibia are called condyle.

    These boney projections are covered with a material that allows for ease of movement. The patella, or knee cap, is a bone connected by a ligament and a tendon to the knee joint. It is smooth underneath and provides a gliding surface at the outside of the knee joint for ease of movement. It also works to protect the knee joint.

    SOFT TISSUE IN THE KNEE

    The meniscus is a C-shaped piece of cartilage in the knee. There are two menisci in each knee joint, the medial meniscus on the inner side and the lateral meniscus on the outer side the knee joint. These provide stability and protection to the knee while distributing the femur’s weight. Articular cartilage is the smooth tissue covering the condyle surfaces where bones meet. This smooth surface serves to provide as little friction between the bones as possible, allowing for ease of movement.

    Ligaments are tissue that connect and hold bones together to provide stability in the knee. Tendons are tissue that connect bone to muscle. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of four primary ligaments that hold the knee together. It is located inside the knee joint, running diagonally in the middle of the knee and connecting the bottom of the thigh bone (femur) to the top of the lower leg bone (tibia). It is in charge of rotational stability in the knee, but it also prevents the tibia from sliding forward in front of the femur. The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is located behind the ACL and keeps the tibia from moving backwards. The ACL is injured more often than the PCL, which is stronger. These ligaments work together to create back and forth knee movement.