Corpus: Medial meniscus

The medial meniscus is a fibrocartilaginous component of the knee joint consisting, located medially between the articular surfaces of the thigh bone (femur) and the shin bone (tibia).

see also: Lateral meniscus

The medial meniscus has a C-shaped appearance and can be divided into three sections:

• Cornu anterius (anterior horn)
• Pars intermedia (middle part)
• Cornu posterius (posterior horn)

In contrast to the lateral meniscus, the medial meniscus is firmly attached to the joint capsule and the inner collateral ligament of the knee joint. The anterior horn is attached to the anterior intercondylar fossa of the tibia by the anterior meniscotibial ligament, while the posterior horn is fixed in the posterior intercondylar fossa by the posterior meniscotibial ligament.

The medial meniscus is stressed during external rotation and relieved during internal rotation.

The lateral and medial meniscus increase the contact surface of the femoral condyles, ensuring a more even pressure distribution and shock absorption. Additionally, they facilitate better distribution of synovial fluid across the joint surfaces, comparable to a windshield wiper.

Meniscus lesions are among the most common injuries to the knee joint. They can be detected using MRI or arthroscopy. Several clinical signs that can indicate a meniscal injury, including:

• Steinmann sign (Steinmann I, Steinmann II)
• Apley test
• Böhler sign
• Payr sign