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Bones: (femur, tibia, fibula, patella)

The femur in the upper leg and the tibia in the lower leg are meeting
at the knee. The fibula (lower leg) is connected to the joint, but is not
directly affected by the hinge joint action and the patella (or kneecap)
is in the center of the knee.
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Calcified tissues (have an accumulation of calcium salts in it)


Provide support and structure to the knee
A broken bone is named a fracture

Two types of bone:


1. Cortical (compact): the biggest and main part, 80 % of the bone
2. Cancellous or trabecular (spongy): situated at the end of long
bones, 20%
Composition:
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Collagen fibres: main fibrous protein in the body, has a triple


helical structure + specific points along the collagen fibres serve
as nucleation sites for the bone mineral crystals
Inorganic bone mineral in the form of small crystals: can be
approximated as hydroxyapatite (HA), chemical formula:
Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2, contains ions (silicon, carbonate and zinc)
Between 10 to 20% of water
Dry mass: 60 to 70% is bone mineral
+ small amount of other substances: proteins, inorganic salts

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