Dear Doctors: I was on the couch with my right leg on an ottoman when our black Lab rammed into the inside of my knee. The next day, it really hurt to extend or turn my knee. (Not painful to the touch, though, which seemed weird.) It felt better in a week, but I want to know what got hurt.

Dear Reader: The knee is the largest joint in the body, and it's one of the most complex. It's a hinge joint with a network of muscles, tendons and ligaments. These connect it to the femur (thigh bone) above, and to the tibia (shin bone) below. Although designed for bending and straightening the leg, the anatomy of the knee also allows for some slight rotation. All of this provides the strength and stability needed for all the demands we make on this hard-working joint as we walk, run, turn, crouch, j

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