What attaches to the medial meniscus?

What attaches to the medial meniscus?

• A. LCL, popliteus
• B. MCL, semimembranosus, and quadriceps
• C. Quadriceps only
• D. Semimembranosus only

Answer: (B)

The medial meniscus is tightly anchored to structures on the inner knee, which helps it move with the joint instead of slipping out of place. The deep fibers of the medial collateral ligament blend with the meniscal tissue, giving the medial meniscus a firm attachment to the tibia and helping stabilize the joint against valgus stress. The semimembranosus muscle also sends a tendon expansion to the posterior horn of the medial meniscus, forming part of the posterior capsule and lending a pull on the meniscus as the knee flexes or straightens. In addition, the anterior aspect of the knee’s extensor mechanism—via the quadriceps tendon and surrounding capsule/retinacular connections—adds another attachment pathway to the medial meniscus, contributing to its stabilization during knee extension. Together, these three elements—MCL, semimembranosus, and aspects of the quadriceps–capsular complex—account for the primary attachments to the medial meniscus.

The medial meniscus is tightly anchored to structures on the inner knee, which helps it move with the joint instead of slipping out of place. The deep fibers of the medial collateral ligament blend with the meniscal tissue, giving the medial meniscus a firm attachment to the tibia and helping stabilize the joint against valgus stress. The semimembranosus muscle also sends a tendon expansion to the posterior horn of the medial meniscus, forming part of the posterior capsule and lending a pull on the meniscus as the knee flexes or straightens. In addition, the anterior aspect of the knee’s extensor mechanism—via the quadriceps tendon and surrounding capsule/retinacular connections—adds another attachment pathway to the medial meniscus, contributing to its stabilization during knee extension. Together, these three elements—MCL, semimembranosus, and aspects of the quadriceps–capsular complex—account for the primary attachments to the medial meniscus.