During flexion/extension activities, which bone do the menisci follow?

During flexion/extension activities, which bone do the menisci follow?

• A. Femur
• B. Tibia
• C. Fibula
• D. Patella

Answer: (B)

The motion of the menisci during knee bending and straightening is governed by their attachment to the tibial plateau. They sit on the tibia and are anchored there by the coronary ligaments, so as the tibia translates and the femur rolls and glides over the articular surfaces, the menisci move with the tibia to stay congruent with the tibial surface. This keeps the femoral condyles properly seated on the menisci, distributes load, and protects the joint from shear. The femur moves on top of the menisci, not the other way around, which is why the menisci follow the tibia rather than the femur. The fibula and patella aren’t primarily responsible for guiding meniscal motion in the knee joint; their roles differ—fibula contributes mainly to ankle stability (with the tibia) and the patella tracks within the patellofemoral groove.

The motion of the menisci during knee bending and straightening is governed by their attachment to the tibial plateau. They sit on the tibia and are anchored there by the coronary ligaments, so as the tibia translates and the femur rolls and glides over the articular surfaces, the menisci move with the tibia to stay congruent with the tibial surface. This keeps the femoral condyles properly seated on the menisci, distributes load, and protects the joint from shear.

The femur moves on top of the menisci, not the other way around, which is why the menisci follow the tibia rather than the femur. The fibula and patella aren’t primarily responsible for guiding meniscal motion in the knee joint; their roles differ—fibula contributes mainly to ankle stability (with the tibia) and the patella tracks within the patellofemoral groove.