The selective three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging acquisition method is used to obtain thin (0.8 mm), contiguous slices of the knee. When combined with the improved signal-to-noise ratio of surface coils, this method produces excellent anatomical definition of the knee. Two fresh cadaver specimens were imaged and dissected. Normal anatomy was defined on three normal volunteers. Four patients with knee injuries were imaged. This method may be useful in the routine imaging of patients with certain traumatic knee injuries.