Articular cartilage is a white elastic tissue that allows bones to glide smoothly against each other. It covers the ends of the femur and tibia as well as the back of the patella.
In addition to the ‘articular cartilage’ covering the bones, the knee joint also contains two crescent-shaped disks of cartilage known as the meniscus. These menisci lie between the lower end of the femur and the upper end of the tibia, and act as shock absorbers or cushions. A thick layer of protective tissue called the joint capsule surrounds the entire joint.
The function of articular cartilage is to absorb shock and provide an extremely smooth surface to make movement easier.
