Teachers Guide

The Wonder Knee

Objective: Students will learn the functions of three different ligaments in the knee; the
MCL, the ACL, and the LCL. Students will build a motorized LEGO model of the knee,
while learning about the biomedical field and knee injuries.

Preparation: Review the background information and build The Wonder Knee
model yourself.

Project Kit: LEGO Kit 1, 3 LEGO rubber bands

Vocabulary: Ligaments, Medial Collateral ligament (MCL), Anterior Cruciate
Ligament (ACL), Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL), Cartilage, Bursa

Overview: The human body is a really complicated system of equally complex

structures. The inner-workings of which are still to be discovered and researched for
years to come. However, one of the most fascinating structures in the human body is
the knee. The knee can withstand up to five times the human weight. With resounding
qualities such as this one, it is no wonder that it is one of the most complex facets of the
human body.
In general, the human knee consists of bones, ligaments, and various other soft tissues.
All of these three structures will be expanded upon later in this document. The knee
consists of 14 ligaments, the three main ones being the ACL, MCL, and LCL, and four
major bones: the femur, the patella, the tibia, and fibula [2]. So not only is the knee the
largest joint in the body, but arguably the most important. After all, it is the joint that
allows us to walk.

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Figure 1: Front View of the Right Knee [1]

The human knee is a complex joint in the body

Understanding the knee and how it works allows us to learn about how we can prevent
injuries to the knee. The knee is a synovial joint, which means that it has a capsule
surrounding the joint itself. This capsule nourishes and lubricates the knee which allows
it to move smoothly and painlessly, just like how oil in your car works. The knee is made
up of six different parts: bones, cartilage, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and capsules.
Each have a vital role in ensuring the knee works smoothly and painlessly.
The Bones
There are a total of 4 bones that make up the knee: tibia, femur, patella, and fibula [2].
The tibia, commonly known as the shin bone and the fibula, which is on the outer side of
the shin, create the bottom portion of the knee. The femur is commonly known as the
thigh bone and is the top portion of the knee. The patella forms what is known as the
knee cap, which is located at the very front of the knee. All of these bones allow the
knee to support the body while still allowing for the leg to bend.

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The Cartilage
Cartilage is the connective tissue that provides shock absorbance in the knee [2]. This
absorbance allows the knee to reduce the forces that go through the bones when a
person runs or jumps. The cartilage of the knee also helps reduce friction that the knee
can experience in everyday movement. Tears in the cartilage are the most common
forms of knee injuries. Muscles also help strengthen the knee so that it can move and
bend to forces without injuring the knee.
The Ligaments
Ligaments are fibrous connective tissues which link the bones in the knee together.
They are made of collagen and are the main stabilizing structures for the knee. This
helps in preventing uncontrolled movement and instability. Tendons are made up of soft
tissues and link the bones to the muscles. They also help in stabilizing the structures for
the knee [2].
The Capsules
The knee also has small capsules called bursa. These are small fluid sacs that are
found in various spots throughout the knee [2]. The bursa reduce friction between the
bones and soft tissues while the knee is in motion. The reduction in friction allows the
knee to not inflame from the friction that it experiences when the knee is in motion.

The ligaments are key for proper knee function

Ligaments are connective tissue structures that support joints and limit their motion.
Ligaments work similar to the way rubber bands work by stretching to perform a function
and then coming back to their original shape. The knee is made up of 14 ligaments, but
the three most important ones are the anterior cruciate ligament, the medial collateral
ligament, and lateral collateral ligament [4].
The Anterior Cruciate Ligament, or ACL, is a ligament that runs under the
kneecap and controls the rotation and forward movement of the tibia bone [3]. On
Figure 2, the ACL is labeled as (1).
The Medial Collateral Ligament, or MCL, is a ligament that runs along the inside
of the knee and contributes to the stability of the knee [4]. On Figure 2, the MCL is
labeled as (2).
The Lateral Collateral Ligament, or LCL, is a ligament that runs along the outside
of the knee and also contributes to the stability of the knee [4]. On Figure 2, the LCL is
labeled as (3).
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Figure 2: Right Knee Bone and Ligament Structure [3]

Knee injuries are drastically increasing among children

A study by J. Todd Lawrence, MD (an orthopedic surgeon at The Childrens Hospital of
Philadelphia) found a more than 400% increase in knee injuries in young people
between the years of 1999 and 2011 [5]. After sorting through various records, the study
found that there were three common injuries that increased throughout the years: torn
meniscus, ACL tears, and tibial spine fractures. Torn meniscuses were shown to
increase at a rate of 14 injuries per year [5]. ACL tears were shown to increase at a rate
of 11 injuries per year [5]. Tibia spine fractures did not experience as drastic of an
increase, but they did increase at a rate of one injury per year [5].
The study is unsure why the knee injuries have increased so much in young children
and teens. J. Todd Lawrence, MD suggested that this increase could be due to the
high-level, year-round, young-age specialized (sports) competition [5]. The study also
suggests that it is possible that the number of knee injuries has remained the same over
time, but better diagnostic methods have allowed for more injuries to be found and
treated. Lawrence is hopeful that this study will show people that knee injuries in
children are serious, and we need to do all that we can in helping them prevent these
injuries.

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The biomedical field is rapidly expanding

The biomedical industry is a fast growing STEM branch that combines engineering and
medicine into diverse categories of business, including pharmaceuticals and medical
devices. Biomedical engineers make innovative technologies to enhance and save
lives. The three main branches of biomedical engineering are biomechanics,
bioinstrumentation, and biomaterials. Biomaterials is a concentration that focuses on
natural and synthetic material that can be put into the body. Biomechanics is a
concentration that focuses on how the human body works as a mechanical and living
system. Bioinstrumentation is a concentration that focuses on developing equipment
that understands biological data [6].

Figure 3: Projected Increase in Stem Jobs [7]

As seen on the figure above, the biomedical field is projected to grow 62% in the next
decade, which will create hundreds of new, diverse jobs in the field [6]. Currently there
are not enough biomedical engineers to fill all those future jobs, therefore we have to
spark an interest in todays kids so they can fill the jobs. Kids can become interested in
biomedical engineering by doing projects such as this LEGO build to work on problemsolving skills while using their creativity.
The biomedical field is a very broad field that encompasses a lot of areas of work. Some
examples of biomedical engineering jobs related to the knee are the ongoing research
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for a cure for arthritis, the attempt to regrow functional joints using regenerative
medicine, and the engineering of incredible prosthetics. Because biomedical
engineering is so large and diverse, there are many opportunities for all sorts of kids
with different interest to get involved and make a difference all around the world, helping
millions of people.

Question and Answers

Q: What does your knee help you do?
A: See what answers the students give. Add that their knees help them stand up, walk,
run, kick a ball, bend your legs, and any other activity involving the knees.
Q: How many different parts is the knee made of, and what are they called?
A: 6! The different parts are called bones, cartilage, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and
capsules.
Q: How many different bones are there in your knee, and what are they called?
A: 4! The four bones in your knee are called the tibia, femur, patella, and fibula.
Q: What do the muscles in your knee help you do?
A: The muscles in your knee absorb shock. This causes less pressure and strain on
your knee joints to help prevent injury and reduce pain.
Q: What do the ligaments in your knee do?
A: The ligaments in your knee help support the knee joint and limit the knee motion.
They stop your knee from coming too far forward or spinning around or moving
sideways!
Q: How many ligaments in your knee are there?
A: There are 14 ligaments in your knees. The most important ones are the ACL, MCL,
and LCL.
Q: Where is the ACL found and what does it do?
A: The ACL is in the front of your knee. It controls the knee rotation and the forward
movement of the tibia bone. Point at the front of your knee to show the children where
their ACL is. Demonstrate the forward motion of the knee and explain where the rotation
of the knee happens.
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LEGO is a registered trademark of the LEGO Group of companies which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse these programs.
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Q: Where is the MCL found and what does it do?

A: The MCL is located on the inside part of your knee. It helps with your stability when
you stand up and move so you dont fall over. Point at the inside of your knee to show
the children where their MCL is.
Q: Where is the LCL found and what does it do?
A: The LCL is located on the outside part of your knee. It helps with your stability when
you stand up and move so you dont fall over. Point at the outside of your knee to show
the children where their LCL is.
Q: Can anyone name any famous people/ athletes who injured their knee
A: This is a very broad question, just meant to make knee injuries relatable. Including,
Adrian Peterson, Bo Jackson, and many more people

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References
[1] Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, in Morphopedics. [Online]. Available:
http://morphopedics.wikidot.com/patello-femoral-pain-syndrome. Accessed: Oct. 23,
2016.

[2]knee-pain-explained, "Knee Joint Anatomy," in Knee-Pain-Explained, Wilson health

Ltd, 2010. [Online]. Available: http://www.knee-pain-explained.com/knee-jointanatomy.html. Accessed: Oct. 19, 2016.

[3]"Knee Diagram," in Wikimedia Commons, 2011. [Online]. Available:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Knee_diagram.svg. Accessed: Oct. 20, 2016.

[4]John Hopkins Medicine, "Knee Ligament Repair," in Johns Hopkins medicine health
library. [Online]. Available:
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/test_procedures/orthopaedic/knee_ligame
nt_repair_92,p07675/. Accessed: Oct. 19, 2016.

[5]C. Nierenberg, "Knee injuries on the rise in young athletes," in WebMD, WebMD,
2011. [Online]. Available: http://www.webmd.com/children/news/20111017/kneeinjuries-on-the-rise-in-young-athletes. Accessed: Oct. 19, 2016.

[6]UC Davis, "BME jobs expected to grow 72%," in UC Davis Biomedical Engineering,
Biomedical Engineering, 2010. [Online]. Available: https://bme.ucdavis.edu/blog/bmejobs-expected-to-grow-72/. Accessed: Oct. 20, 2016.
[7]"Projected Increase in STEM Jobs 2010-2020," in Wikimedia commons, 2015.
[Online]. Available:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Projected_Increase_in_STEM_Jobs_20102020_150908-A-AB123-002.jpg. Accessed: Oct. 20, 2016.

Copyright 2016 Bricks 4 Kidz

LEGO is a registered trademark of the LEGO Group of companies which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse these programs.
Creative Learning Corporation common shares are listed on OTCBB under the ticker symbol CLCN. 2016 Bricks 4 Kidz