The Knee - Paper

Knee
Our knee is the most complicated and largest joint in our body. It’s also the most vulnerable because it bears enormous weight and pressure loads while providing flexible movement. When we walk, our knees support 1.5 times our body weight; climbing stairs is about 3-4 times our body weight and squatting about 8 times.
Anatomy
The main parts of the knee joint are bones, ligaments, tendons, cartilages and a joint capsule, all of which are made of collagen. Collagen is a fibrous tissue present throughout our body. As we age, collagen breaks down.
The bones of the knee give strength, stability and flexibility in the knee. Four bones make up the knee. The tibia (shin) runs from the knee to the ankle. The patella (kneecap) is a flat, triangular bone that relieves friction between the bones and muscles when the knee is bent or straightened and to protect the knee joint. The femur (thigh bone) is the largest, longest and strongest bone in the body. The fibula is a long, thin bone in the lower leg on the lateral side, and runs alongside the tibia from the knee to the ankle.
The muscles in the leg keep the knee stable, there are two main muscle groups, the quadriceps and hamstrings. The quadriceps are a collection of 4 muscles on the front of the thigh and are responsible for straightening the knee by bringing a bent knee to a straight position. The hamstrings is a group of 3 muscles on the back of the thigh and control the knee moving from a straight position to a bent position.
The function of ligaments is to attach bones to bones and give strength and stability to the knee as the knee has very little stability. Ligaments are strong, tough bands that are not particularly flexible. There are five ligaments in the knee, the Medial Collateral Ligament and the Lateral Collateral Ligament limits sideways motion of your knee and moving too far side-to-side. The Anterior cruciate ligament limits rotation and forward motion of the tibia. The Posterior cruciate ligament...