Structure
The meniscofemoral ligaments connect the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus to the lateral aspect of the medial condyle of the femur. These are labeled as anterior and posterior meniscofemoral ligaments based on their position with reference to the posterior cruciate ligament. The anterior meniscofemoral ligament passes anterior to the posterior cruciate ligament, while the posterior meniscofemoral ligament passes behind the posterior cruciate ligament.
The posterior meniscofemoral ligament is a continuation of the posterior region of the lateral meniscus of the knee joint. It stretches obliquely, across the posterior surface of the posterior cruciate ligament to attach to the medial condyle of the femur, deep inside the intercondylar notch (Van Dommelen and Fowler, 1989).
The anterior and posterior meniscofemoral ligaments are described as variants, where at least one ligament may be present in up to 93% of knees examined. The anterior meniscofemoral ligament was present in 47% of knees examined; the posterior meniscofemoral ligament was present in 71% of knees; while both ligaments were present in 32% of knees (Tubbs, Shoja and Loukas, 2016).
Related parts of the anatomy
Function
The meniscofemoral support the posterior cruciate ligament in reducing displacement caused by posteriorly directed forces on the tibia. In addition, they are involved in controlling the motion of the lateral meniscus in conjunction with the tendon of popliteus muscle during flexion (Van Dommelen and Fowler, 1989).
List of Clinical Correlates
—Wrisberg rip
References
Tubbs, R. S., Shoja, M. M. and Loukas, M. (2016) Bergman's Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Human Anatomic Variation. Wiley.
Van Dommelen, B. A. and Fowler, P. J. (1989) 'Anatomy of the posterior cruciate ligament. A review', Am J Sports Med, 17(1), pp. 24-9.
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Meniscofemoral Ligament
The meniscofemoral ligaments are accessory ligaments of the knee that extend from the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus to the lateral aspect of the medial femoral condyle.
