The next time you squat (or jump or kick), thank your cartilage. This elastic tissue, located on the ends of the thigh bone (femur) and leg bone (tibia), is responsible for allowing the knee to bend and straighten in a smooth and fluid fashion. That type of cartilage is similar to the smooth, shiny surface on the end of a chicken, but there’s another type of cartilage in the knee called the meniscus, located between the ends of the bones. It acts as a shock-absorber and stabilizer.