Knee menisci

The knee menisci are two crescent-shaped, fibrocartilaginous structures located between the femoral condyles and tibial plateau within the knee joint. There is a medial meniscus and a lateral meniscus.

Their primary functions are to facilitate load transmission, enhance joint congruity, and contribute to joint stability by distributing compressive forces and reducing peak contact stresses on the articular cartilage. The menisci are anchored to the tibia and surrounding ligaments, which allows them to convert compressive loads into circumferential (hoop) stresses, thereby protecting the articular cartilage from degeneration and injury.