The menisco-femoral ligaments. 1995

A C Wan, and P Felle
Department of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin.

The menisco-femoral ligaments were studied in 60 knees from 30 dissecting room cadavers. The anterior horns of the menisci were attached to the intercondylar area of the femur by discrete antero-medial or antero-lateral menisco-femoral ligaments, separate from the anterior cruciate ligament, in 15% of knees for each meniscus, more frequently than previously appreciated; these anterior horn ligaments may exacerbate a meniscal tear. The posterior horn of the lateral meniscus was connected with the intercondylar area of the femur in 100% of knees. In 93% of knees a ligament ran behind the posterior cruciate ligament while in 33% of knees a ligament ran in front of the posterior cruciate ligament. We propose renaming these the pre-cruciate postero-lateral menisco-femoral ligament and post-cruciate postero-lateral menisco-femoral ligament, respectively, to avoid confusion with the ligaments of the anterior horns. The menisco-femoral ligaments may function in controlling movement of the menisci, especially during rotation of the knee. The posterior horn of the medial meniscus has no direct femoral attachment and this may be a factor in the increased risk of injury to this meniscus.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008592 Menisci, Tibial The interarticular fibrocartilages of the superior surface of the tibia. Lateral Menisci,Medial Menisci,Menisci, Lateral,Menisci, Medial,Semilunar Cartilages,Tibial Menisci,Meniscus, Medial,Meniscus, Tibial,Tibial Meniscus,Cartilage, Semilunar,Cartilages, Semilunar,Lateral Meniscus,Medial Meniscus,Meniscus, Lateral,Semilunar Cartilage
D005269 Femur The longest and largest bone of the skeleton, it is situated between the hip and the knee. Trochanter,Greater Trochanter,Lesser Trochanter,Femurs,Greater Trochanters,Lesser Trochanters,Trochanter, Greater,Trochanter, Lesser,Trochanters,Trochanters, Greater,Trochanters, Lesser
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D016118 Anterior Cruciate Ligament A strong ligament of the knee that originates from the posteromedial portion of the lateral condyle of the femur, passes anteriorly and inferiorly between the condyles, and attaches to the depression in front of the intercondylar eminence of the tibia. Cruciate Ligament, Anterior,Anterior Cranial Cruciate Ligament,Cranial Cruciate Ligament,Anterior Cruciate Ligaments,Cranial Cruciate Ligaments,Cruciate Ligament, Cranial,Cruciate Ligaments, Anterior,Cruciate Ligaments, Cranial,Ligament, Anterior Cruciate,Ligament, Cranial Cruciate,Ligaments, Anterior Cruciate,Ligaments, Cranial Cruciate
D016119 Posterior Cruciate Ligament A strong ligament of the knee that originates from the anterolateral surface of the medial condyle of the femur, passes posteriorly and inferiorly between the condyles, and attaches to the posterior intercondylar area of the tibia. Cruciate Ligament, Posterior,Cruciate Ligaments, Posterior,Ligament, Posterior Cruciate,Ligaments, Posterior Cruciate,Posterior Cruciate Ligaments

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