Dissection # 2: Knee

You can draw a knee using these easy instructions. Doing the drawing yourself will help you remember the anatomy better by harnessing something called the generation effect. I have used the most simple shapes possible. Go ahead and grab some paper and a pen or pencil and get started.

First Step: Draw the distal femur. It may help to think of the shape of the distal femur as being similar to a stick with an irregularly shaped ball at the end.

Second Step: Add the proximal tibia. It may help to think of the shape of the proximal tibia as being similar to a rounded rectangle attached to a stick.

Third Step: Add the patella as a rounded rectangle, anterior to the femur and the tibia.

Fourth Step: Add the quadriceps tendon to the top of the patella.

Fifth Step: Add the patellar tendon to the bottom of the patella extending to the tibial tubercle.

Sixth Step: Add the ACL.

Seventh Step: Add the PCL.

Done! Try to anticipate the function of the tendons and ligaments based on their course and the structures that they connect.