Human Knee Active Learning Kit

A life-size, functional reproduction of a real knee designed to engage students, healthcare professionals, athletes, and patients in hands-on, active learning.

Photo of hands holding the full version of our Human Knee Active Learning Kit

Fully functional anatomy

Knee motions are complicated. This is the only knee model on the market (that we know of) that fully and realistically reproduces the complex motions of the knee, including:

  • Flexion-extension
  • Tibial longitudinal rotation
  • Varus-valgus rotation
  • Anterior-posterior translation
  • Lateral meniscus tracking the lateral condyle
  • Knee locking (screw home) mechanism

Anatomy you can take apart

In addition to being fully functional, the knee can also be fully assembled and disassembled so that students can learn anatomy by building it.

This made-to-be-taken-apart design also allows you to do functional knockout experiments, such as removing the ACL to simulate an injury, and easily replace parts.

Anatomy you can move

See and feel muscle actions by manually simulate muscle contractions. And simulate multiple muscles to test how different patterns of muscle coordination affect flexion-extension, tibial rotation, patellar tracking, and more.

Screenshot of knee segmentation with muscles and cryosection images in partial transparency

Real knee anatomy

This knee kit reproduces realistic knee motions because it is based on a real knee. This knee kit is the right knee of the "Visible Woman" from the National Library of Medicine's Visible Human Project®, built from 3D Anatomy Studios' own segmentations of the public domain CT and cryosection image datasets.

Fully documented

Free activity guides and documentation show you step-by-step how to use the kit. Use the guides to prepare your own demonstrations, set up lab stations, or have students follow the guides for self-guided learning. Each activity includes:

  • A PDF worksheet that students can fill in
  • An activity guide with photos, videos, and hints
  • An educator guide with learning objectives and an answer key (visible only to educators)

How to order

Ordering kits

To order your own knee kits, just email us at contact@3danatomystudios.com with the number of kits you'd like to order of each model (Mini, Basic, Full) and we'll send you a quote; see below for current pricing. Your kits will be made by hand in our workshop in Portland, Oregon and shipped directly to you. We can also ship any replacement parts. We accept purchase orders and payment by credit card, check, or ACH.

Mini

Photo of the mini version of our human knee active learning kit viewed from the medial side

Handheld model with just the ligaments and patella to focus on function at the joint.

  • Ligaments (MCL, PCL, ACL, LCL)
  • Menisci and meniscotibial ligaments
  • Patella and patellar ligament
  • Can be upgraded later to a basic or full model*

$499

per kit

Basic

Photo of the basic version of our human knee active learning kit slightly flexed, tilted anteriorly, and viewed from the medial side

Mid-leg to mid-thigh model for joint+patellar mechanics and manual muscle simulations

  • Ligaments (MCL, PCL, ACL, LCL)
  • Menisci and meniscotibial ligaments
  • Patella and patellar ligament
  • IT band/tract
  • Cross-section plates at mid thigh and mid leg
  • Quadriceps muscles
  • Can be upgraded later to a full model*

$749

per kit

Full

Photo of the full version of our human knee active learning kit slightly flexed, tilted anteriorly, and viewed from the medial side

"Basic model" plus color-coded elastic cords for all muscles from mid leg to mid thigh

  • Ligaments (MCL, PCL, ACL, LCL)
  • Menisci and meniscotibial ligaments
  • Patella and patellar ligament
  • IT band/tract
  • Cross-section plates at mid thigh and mid leg
  • All muscles between cross-sections, color-coded by compartment

$999

per kit

The prices shown above include free shipping within the US. Ask us about discounts for institutions facing financial hardship. Prices are subject to change.

*Kit upgrades will have a cost less than the cost of a new corresponding upgraded model and will require some assembly.

Kit add-ons

Add any of the following to your order to expand the functionality of your kits!

Photo of the basic knee model mounted on a table edge with a tibial tendon instead of a patella

"Tibial tendon"

This "tibial tendon" can be swapped out with the patellar ligament + quadriceps tendons to simulate what it would be like for the knee to not have a patella. For example, this part can be used to measure how the leverage of the quadriceps muscles differ with and without a patella. The tendon comes with a clip at one end for attaching to the tibia (same as for the patellar ligament) and a clip at the other for attaching an elastic muscle or manual muscle cord (same as for the rectus femoris tendon).

$29

each