Why is it called a meniscus?
This curved surface, created by air pressure, is called a meniscus. The Greeks had a word for the lunar crescent, mēniskos, which itself came from the word for the moon, mḗnē. Later, the name was also applied to a crescent-shaped cartilage at the knee, between the tibia and the femur.
What does meniscus mean in medical terms?
Definition of meniscus 1 : a crescent or crescent-shaped body. 2 : a concavo-convex lens. 3 : the curved upper surface of a column of liquid. 4 : a fibrous cartilage within a joint especially of the knee.
What is a meniscus operation called?
Surgery Overview. Meniscectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of a torn meniscus. A meniscus tear is a common knee joint injury. Surgeons who perform meniscectomies (orthopedic surgeons) will make surgical decisions based on the meniscus’s ability to heal as well as your age, health, and activity level.
What are the two types of meniscus?
The menisci — the medial meniscus and lateral meniscus – are crescent-shaped bands of thick, rubbery cartilage attached to the shinbone (tibia). They act as shock absorbers and stabilize the knee. The medial meniscus is on the inner side of the knee joint. The lateral meniscus is on the outside of the knee.
What is a meniscus in physics?
A meniscus is a curve in the surface of a molecular substance (water, of course) when it touches another material.
What is the role of the meniscus?
The menisci of the knee joint are crescent-shaped wedges of fibrocartilage that provide increased stability to the femorotibial articulation, distribute axial load, absorb shock, and provide lubrication to the knee joint. Injuries to the menisci are recognized as a cause of significant musculoskeletal morbidity.
What is meniscus in nursing?
Introduction. Within the knee, the menisci are two crescent-shaped pieces of fibrocartilage, one in each the medial and lateral compartments, which act to dissipate loading forces, stabilize during rotation, and lubricate the joint.
Why is the meniscus important?
The meniscus plays a vital role in maintaining the stability of the knee joint along with optimizing the tibiofemoral load transfer and distribution. This also helps in preserving the health of the articular cartilage.
What is a scope of the meniscus?
Knee arthroscopy for meniscal tear is a minimally invasive procedure to remove or repair a torn meniscus. If your tear is on the inner edge of your meniscus, where there is no blood flow, the damaged tissue must be removed. This procedure is called an arthroscopic meniscectomy.
Where is meniscus located?
The menisci sit between the tibia (lower leg bone) and the femur (thigh bone) and protect the lower part of the leg from the shock created by our body weight. The medial meniscus sits on the inside of the knee and the lateral meniscus sits on the outside of the knee.
What is another name for meniscus?
The menisci are also known as “semi-lunar” cartilages, referring to their half-moon, crescent shape. The term “meniscus” is from the Ancient Greek word μηνίσκος (meniskos), meaning “crescent”.
What are the types of meniscus?
Each knee has two menisci: The lateral meniscus is in your outer knee, and the medial meniscus is in the inner knee. A torn meniscus is a primary reason for knee pain, because the injured cartilage is no longer providing the full cushiony protection between the bones in the knee joint.
meniscus (n.) “a crescent or crescent-shaped body,” 1690s in reference to lenses convex on one side, concave on the other, and thicker in the middle; c. 1812 in reference to liquid surfaces, Modern Latin meniscus, from Greek meniskos “lunar crescent,” diminutive of mene “moon” (see moon (n.)).
What is a horizontal tear of the meniscus?
Horizontal Tear: A horizontal tear is a tear that is most commonly amenable to meniscus repair. Seen in the upper right corner of the image, a horizontal tear runs along the circumferential fibers of the meniscus. Rather than removing the damaged portion of the meniscus, a horizontal tear may be able to be sewn together.
What is a convex meniscus?
The meniscus is the curve in the upper surface of a liquid close to the surface of the container or another object, caused by surface tension. It can be either convex or concave. A convex meniscus occurs when the molecules have a stronger attraction to each other than to the material…
How many types of meniscus injuries are there?
The 6 Types of Meniscus Tears. Incomplete and intrasubstance tears of the meniscus are stable injuries, and they generally do not require any surgical treatment. By the time people are in their 20s or 30s, intrasubstances changes of the meniscus tissue are very commonly seen on an MRI.