The knee is the joint where the bones of the lower and upper legs meet. The largest joint in the body, the knee moves like a hinge, allowing you to sit, squat, walk or jump. The knee consists of three bones: femur – the upper leg bone, or thigh bone.

Are knees considered joints?

The knee is one of the largest and most complex joints in the body. The knee joins the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia). The smaller bone that runs alongside the tibia (fibula) and the kneecap (patella) are the other bones that make the knee joint.

Is the knee a joint or muscle?

The knee is a hinge joint but it also has the ability to rotate slightly as it moves. The contraction of muscles at the front of the thigh (quadriceps) straightens the leg, while contraction of the muscles at the back of the thigh (hamstrings) allow the leg to bend at the knee.