Medial femorotibial compartment of knee joint

The medial femorotibial compartment of the knee joint is located between the articular surfaces of the medial femoral condyle and the medial tibial plateau, separated by the medial meniscus.

Various structures contribute to its stability and function of the medial femorotibial joint:

• The superficial medial collateral ligament (sMCL) is the most prominent structure, extending from the medial epicondyle of the femur to the tibia. It has two distinct tibial attachments: one proximal and one distal, with the distal attachment being approximately 61.2 mm distal to the knee joint.[1]

• The deep medial collateral ligament (dMCL) is divided into meniscofemoral and meniscotibial portions, which are closely associated with the medial meniscus. The meniscofemoral portion attaches to the femur, while the meniscotibial portion attaches to the tibia, providing additional stability to the medial meniscus.[1]

• The posterior oblique ligament (POL) is another critical structure, attaching proximally to the adductor tubercle and distally to the tibia. It plays a significant role in stabilizing the knee against valgus and rotational forces.[1]

• The medial meniscus itself is a C-shaped fibrocartilaginous structure that acts as a shock absorber and stabilizer within the knee joint. It is anchored to the tibia by the meniscotibial ligament, which inserts on the posteroinferior edge of the medial meniscus.[2]

• Additionally, the semimembranosus tendon has a capsular branch that inserts behind the posterior horn of the medial meniscus, contributing to the stability and function of the medial compartment.[2]