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The meniscus is a crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous anatomical structure, which is present in the knee, wrist, acromioclavicular, sternoclavicular, and temporomandibular joints. In this article, we will be focusing on the meniscus in the knee, which is a c-shaped pad of cartilage that acts as a shock absorber.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Shape | Crescent-shaped |
| Location | In humans, the meniscus is present in the knee, wrist, acromioclavicular, sternoclavicular, and temporomandibular joints. In other animals, it may be present in other joints. |
| Function | To stabilise the knee joint and act as a shock absorber |
| Composition | Fibrocartilaginous tissue |
| Cover | The menisci cover roughly 60% of the surface of the tibia |
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What You'll Learn
The meniscus is a c-shaped pad of cartilage in the knee
In humans, the meniscus is present in the knee, wrist, acromioclavicular, sternoclavicular, and temporomandibular joints. However, the term 'meniscus' is generally used to refer to the cartilage of the knee. Each knee has two menisci, which sit between the tibia (lower leg bone) and the femur (thigh bone). The medial meniscus sits on the inside of the knee, while the lateral meniscus sits on the outside.
The menisci act as shock absorbers, protecting the lower part of the leg from the shock created by our body weight. They also help to stabilise the knee joint and provide structural integrity to the knee when it undergoes tension and torsion. The menisci cover roughly 60% of the surface of the tibia and are connected by a transverse ligament. The medial meniscus connects to the knee at three points, making it less mobile than the lateral meniscus, which is attached at two points.
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The meniscus is also found in the wrist
The meniscus is a c-shaped or crescent-shaped pad of fibrocartilaginous tissue in the knee that acts as a shock absorber. Each knee has two menisci: the medial meniscus, which sits on the inside of the knee, and the lateral meniscus, which sits on the outside of the knee. The menisci sit between the tibia (lower leg bone) and the femur (thigh bone) and protect the lower part of the leg from the shock created by our body weight. The menisci also help to stabilise the knee joint and provide structural integrity to the knee when it undergoes tension and torsion.
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The meniscus is made of fibrocartilaginous tissue
The meniscus is a crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous anatomical structure that is present in the knee, wrist, acromioclavicular, sternoclavicular, and temporomandibular joints. In humans, the term 'meniscus' is generally used to refer to the cartilage of the knee. Each knee has two menisci, which are found on the medial and lateral sides of the knee. They are located inside and outside the knees, between the tibia and femur bones. The menisci cover roughly 60% of the surface of the tibia.
The menisci are made of fibrocartilaginous tissue, which is a softer type of cartilage. This tissue is woven into dense tissue that is resistant to stretching and extending in various directions. This makes fibrocartilage an excellent material for cushioning the knee joint, which is required to move multi-directionally. The menisci act as a shock absorber, dispersing friction in the knee joint. They also provide structural integrity to the knee when it undergoes tension and torsion.
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The meniscus stabilises the knee joint
The meniscus is a crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous anatomical structure that is present in the knee, wrist, acromioclavicular, sternoclavicular, and temporomandibular joints. In the knee, the meniscus is a c-shaped pad of cartilage that acts as a shock absorber. Each knee has two menisci, which are found on the medial and lateral sides of the knee. The medial meniscus sits on the inside of the knee, while the lateral meniscus sits on the outside. These two menisci cover roughly 60% of the surface of the tibia and are connected by a transverse ligament.
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The meniscus is also known as 'semi-lunar' cartilage
The meniscus is a crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous anatomical structure that only partly divides a joint cavity. In humans, they are present in the knee, wrist, acromioclavicular, sternoclavicular, and temporomandibular joints. In other animals, they may be present in other joints. The term 'meniscus' is used to refer to the cartilage of the knee, either to the lateral or medial meniscus. Both are cartilaginous tissues that provide structural integrity to the knee when it undergoes tension and torsion. The menisci are also known as 'semi-lunar' cartilages, referring to their half-moon, crescent shape. The term 'meniscus' comes from the Ancient Greek word 'μηνίσκος' (meniskos), meaning 'crescent'.
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). They are concave on the top and flat on the bottom, articulating with the tibia. The menisci sit between the tibia (lower leg bone) and the femur (thigh bone) and protect the lower part of the leg from the shock created by our body weight. The medial meniscus sits on the inside of the knee and the lateral meniscus sits on the outside of the knee. A transverse ligament connects the two menisci in the knee joint. The menisci attach to such parts of your leg tissues to help them stay in place when you move. The medial meniscus connects to the knee at three points. This means it is less mobile than the lateral meniscus, which is attached at two points.
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Frequently asked questions
The meniscus is not a muscle, but a crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous anatomical structure. In humans, it is present in the knee, wrist, acromioclavicular, sternoclavicular, and temporomandibular joints.
The meniscus acts as a shock absorber, dispersing friction in the knee joint between the tibia and the femur. It also helps to stabilise the knee joint.
There are two menisci in each knee. The medial meniscus sits on the inside of the knee, and the lateral meniscus sits on the outside.
The meniscus is made of fibrocartilaginous tissue. In a healthy knee, the extracellular matrix (ECM) is composed of 72% water, with the remaining 28% made up of organic matter and cells.
