Knee Meniscus Anatomy

Meniscus anatomy the menisci of the knee are two pads of fibrocartilaginous tissue which serve to disperse friction in the knee joint between the lower leg tibia and the thigh femur. The knee meniscus is a special layer of extra cartilage that lines the knee joint.

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External rotation rotating the knee outward puts the most strain on the meniscus while inward internal rotation is the least strenuous.

Knee meniscus anatomy. The medial meniscus is often injured when the knee is twisted or sprained with sudden force. It is not the bones inside the knee that provides stability instead it is the soft tissue tendons ligaments muscles menisci that hold the femur thigh bone the tibia shinbone the fibula the slender bone in the lower leg and the patella kneecap together at the joint. In most of our joints including the knee there is a layer of articular cartilage which is made of collagen and chondroitin.

A torn meniscus is one of the most common knee injuries. Pain swelling and warmth in any of the bursae of the knee. It is less mobile than the lateral meniscus because it is firmly attached to the tibial collateral ligament.

The menisci are described as having a central body with anterior and posterior horns. The articular capsule at the knee joint is thin and in some areas is incomplete but is strengthened by various ligaments and tendons of associated muscles. A basic meniscus definition is a crescent shaped fibrous cartilage between the bones at certain joints especially in the knees the knee is made up of the femur the tibia and the patella bones.

Collection of fluid in the back of the knee. The meniscus is a c shaped piece of tough rubbery cartilage that acts as a shock absorber between your shinbone and thighbone. Anatomy and function of the menisci.

Bursitis often occurs from overuse or injury. What is a meniscus. Ligaments hold the bones of the knees together.

They are attached to the small depressions fossae. There are two knee menisci in each joint. The knee joint contains the meniscus structure comprised of both a medial and a lateral component situated between the corresponding femoral condyle and tibial plateau figure 1.

In cross section they have a triangular bow tie shape being thicker peripherally and thinning to a free edge centrally. Its job is to cushion the joint and transfer forces between the tibia and femur bones. Each is a glossy white complex tissue comprised of cells specialized extracellular matrix ecm molecules and region specific innervation and vascularization.

Ligaments are tough fibrous connective tissues which link bone to bone made of collagen. In knee joint anatomy knee ligaments are the main stabilising structures of the knee preventing excessive movements and instability. It provides a smooth surface over the bones.

Each meniscus has a differing shape size and attachments. They are concave on the top and flat on the bottom articulating with the tibia. It can be torn if you suddenly twist your knee while bearing weight on it.

Anatomy of the meniscus and knee.

Knee Meniscus Anatomy