Here are X-ray images of a human knee joint (front and side views so you can clearly see the bones):
🦴 What you are seeing
On a knee X-ray, doctors mainly look at:
- Femur (thigh bone – top)
- Tibia (shin bone – bottom)
- Fibula (small side bone)
- Patella (kneecap – front view)
The dark space between bones is the joint space, which helps show cartilage health. (Cleveland Clinic)
🧠 Why knee X-rays are done
Doctors use knee X-rays to check for:
- Fractures or injuries
- Arthritis
- Bone alignment problems
- Joint space narrowing (wear of cartilage) (Cleveland Clinic)
⚠️ Important note
X-rays show bones clearly, but they do NOT show:
- Ligaments
- Meniscus
- Tendons
For those, doctors usually need an MRI.
If you want, I can also show:
- a knee with arthritis vs normal knee X-ray
- or explain how to read a knee X-ray like a doctor (simple guide)
