TOTBİD Dergisi

TOTBİD Dergisi

2018, Cilt 17, Sayı, 2     (Sayfalar: 098-106)

Meniscus anatomy

Celal Bozkurt 1, Mehmet Akif Altay 1

1 Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Ortopedi ve Travmatoloji Anabilim Dalı, Şanlıurfa

DOI: 10.14292/totbid.dergisi.2018.12
Görüntüleme: 1489
 - 
İndirme : 3869

The menisci are crescent shaped wedges of fibrocartilage located on the medial and lateral aspects of the knee. They create a suitable joint surface between concave femoral condyles and flat tibial plateaus. They decrease the stress on knee joint cartilage by increasing the joint surface area. Medial meniscus is C shaped and constitute 60% of joint contact area on medial tibial plateau. Peripherally it is attached to the joint capsule via coronary ligaments. It is studied under five distinct areas according to some anatomical features. Lateral meniscus is more circular, mobile and smaller than medial meniscus. It covers 60–80% of lateral tibial plateau (LaPrade, et al., 2014). About 63% of anterior root blends with anterior cruciate ligament. Anterior meniscofemoral (Wrisberg) and posterior meniscofemoral (Humprey) ligaments exist between posterior cruciate ligament and femoral condyle. Lateral meniscus is contiguous to popliteus muscle tendon posterolaterally. Anterior and posterior roots of menisci are important for protecting the cartilage structure. Injuries of the roots disrupt the biomechanics and structure of the menisci. Consequently, circumferential load distribution mechanism, load transfer-transport, and shock absorption properties are lost. In childhood, vascular structures and lymphatics are found in the whole menisci. By the age 18 months, vessels are present only peripheral 25–33% of the menisci. In adults menisci nutrition is provided by vessels peripherally and by synovial fluids centrally. In the peripheric 2/3 of the menisci there are free nerve endings, three different mechanoreceptors (Ruffini, Paccini and Golgi tendon organ). There is no innervation in the central 1/3 of the menisci.

Anahtar Kelimeler : meniscus; anterior-posterior root; meniscus vasculature; meniscal innervation