Front view of the knee

This shows the inner parts of the knee as seen from the front. A small bone (called the patella or the "kneecap") that sits in front of the knee has been removed, so you can see what is under that bone.

The anterior cruciate ligament, or "ACL," is in the middle in white. It connects the thigh bone (called the "femur") to the shin bone (called the "tibia"). The meniscus is a cushion of rubbery material (cartilage) between the thigh bone and the shin bone.