A patient with knee pain and an audible 'click' is diagnosed with a medial meniscus tear. Which anatomical relationship makes the medial meniscus more susceptible to injury than the lateral meniscus?

• A The medial meniscus is smaller and C-shaped, with a larger area of exposure
• B The medial meniscus has a double blood supply making it stiffer
• C The medial meniscus is firmly attached to the deep surface of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and is less mobile ✓
• D The medial meniscus bears 70% of compressive force across the knee joint

Explanation

The medial meniscus is less mobile than the lateral meniscus because it is firmly attached to the deep surface of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and to the medial joint capsule. This reduced mobility means it cannot translate as freely during rotational movements, making it vulnerable to trapping and tearing during twisting injuries. The lateral meniscus is more mobile (not attached to the lateral collateral ligament, which is a separate cord-like structure) and can escape entrapment. The unhappy triad (O'Donoghue triad) involves MCL, medial meniscus, and ACL injuries simultaneously.

Reference: BD Chaurasia's Human Anatomy, 8th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.