Knee Meniscus Anatomy

They are concave on the top and flat on the bottom articulating with the tibia. Pain swelling and warmth in any of the bursae of the knee.

Adolescent Sports Injuries Of The Knee Cleveland Clinic

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.

Knee meniscus anatomy. Anatomy and function of the menisci. 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. It can be torn if you suddenly twist your knee while bearing weight on it.

The knee meniscus is a special layer of extra cartilage that lines the knee joint. It is less mobile than the lateral meniscus because it is firmly attached to the tibial collateral ligament. Each meniscus has a differing shape size and attachments.

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. 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 cross section they have a triangular bow tie shape being thicker peripherally and thinning to a free edge centrally.

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. Ligaments hold the bones of the knees together. 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. Collection of fluid in the back of the knee. In knee joint anatomy knee ligaments are the main stabilising structures of the knee preventing excessive movements and instability.

Each is a glossy white complex tissue comprised of cells specialized extracellular matrix ecm molecules and region specific innervation and vascularization. Bursitis often occurs from overuse or injury. Its job is to cushion the joint and transfer forces between the tibia and femur bones.

There are two knee menisci in each joint. The medial meniscus is often injured when the knee is twisted or sprained with sudden force. What is a meniscus.

The menisci are described as having a central body with anterior and posterior horns. They are attached to the small depressions fossae. External rotation rotating the knee outward puts the most strain on the meniscus while inward internal rotation is the least strenuous.

Anatomy of the meniscus and knee. The meniscus is a c shaped piece of tough rubbery cartilage that acts as a shock absorber between your shinbone and thighbone. Ligaments are tough fibrous connective tissues which link bone to bone made of collagen.

It provides a smooth surface over the bones.

Lateral Meniscus Physiopedia