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.
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 any combination of the MCL, ACL, PCL, or LCL to simulate injuries.
Anatomy you can move
See and feel muscle actions by manually simulating muscle contractions. Simulate multiple muscles to explore concepts in muscle coordination, such as:
- Why smooth motion requires an agonist and antagonist
- How muscles counter external translational forces
- Why synergism among the vasti muscles is necessary for proper patellar tracking
- How muscles counter external rotational torques
- Why synergism among the hamstring muscles is necessary to control tibial rotation
- How muscles co-contract to stabilize a joint
Integrated anatomy
Cross-section plates at the mid-thigh and mid-leg serve as attachment points for all of the muscles and allow the kit to be clamped to a lab bench, tabletop, or desk.
Made from cryosection data, the plates also help students relate 2D imaging to 3D structures, with labeled outlines of each muscle and holes for all the major vessels and nerves of the knee region.
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®.
Every detail of the kit, from muscle attachment sites to the borders of the articular cartilages, comes from 3D Anatomy Studios' own segmentations of the public domain CT and cryosection image datasets.
Active anatomical learning
We've designed this kit to engage learners in the core concepts of musculoskeletal systems, answering questions such as:
- How do muscles create or prevent motion?
- Why is muscle coordination necessary for proper movement?
- How do muscles prevent ligament injuries?
- Why are some ligament injuries more serious than others?
To fully grasp core concepts, learners must understand a system in depth. This kit uses the knee as a case study, helping learners gain not only a deep understanding of the most commonly injured joint in the human body but also of core concepts applicable to many other joints of the human body.
Fully documented
To help you get the most out of your kit, we've created free activity guides and documentation. Use the guides to help you prepare your own demonstrations, set up lab stations, or have students follow the guides for self-guided learning. Each activity includes:
- Step-by-step instructions with photos, videos, hints, and a PDF worksheet that students can fill in
- Materials to set up the activity as a station
- 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, either email us at contact@3danatomystudios.com with the number of kits you'd like to order of each model (Mini, Basic, Full) and how you would like to pay (credit card or purchase order) and we'll send you a quote or complete this quote request form. 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
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
$499
per kit
Basic
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
- Removable quadriceps muscles
- Can be upgraded later to a full model*
$749
per kit
Full
"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, removable and color-coded by compartment
$999
per kit
The prices shown above include free shipping within the US. Ask us about discounts if your institution is facing financial hardship. Prices are subject to change.
*The current cost of an upgrade from a Basic to a Full model is $399 per kit. We are not currently able to offer an upgrade from Mini to Basic.
Kit add-ons
Add any of the following to your order to expand the functionality of your kits!
"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
