Question:
The medial meniscus of the knee joint is injured more often than the lateral meniscus because the medial meniscus is relatively:
The medial meniscus of the knee joint is injured more often than the lateral meniscus because the medial meniscus is relatively:
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The medial meniscus is fixed to the deep medial collateral ligament and capsule, so it cannot slide away during twisting injuries, unlike the more mobile lateral meniscus.
Updated On: Jul 8, 2026
- More mobile
- Less mobile
- Thinner
- Attached loosely to the femur
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The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Recall the anatomy of the two menisci.
Both menisci are crescent shaped pads of fibrocartilage that sit on top of the tibia and cushion the knee joint. The lateral meniscus is almost a closed ring and is not attached to the lateral collateral ligament, so it can glide and shift with knee movement. The medial meniscus is more open in shape and its outer edge is firmly attached to the deep fibers of the medial collateral ligament and to the joint capsule.
Step 2: Understand why this attachment matters.
Because the medial meniscus is tied down to the medial collateral ligament, it cannot move out of the way as freely when the knee twists or bends suddenly. The lateral meniscus, being loosely attached, can shift with the femur and tibia during rotation and largely escape being pinched.
Step 3: Link reduced mobility to injury.
During injuries that combine knee flexion with rotation, such as a sudden twist while the foot is planted, a mobile structure can slide away from danger, but a fixed structure gets trapped and sheared between the femur and tibia. Since the medial meniscus is relatively fixed, it takes the brunt of this shearing force and tears more often.
Step 4: Rule out the other options.
The medial meniscus is not more mobile than the lateral one, so option (A) is the opposite of the truth. Thickness is not the main reason for its higher injury rate, so option (C) does not explain the mechanism. The medial meniscus is firmly, not loosely, attached at its capsular margin, so option (D) is also incorrect.
Step 5: Final answer.
The medial meniscus tears more often because it is relatively less mobile due to its firm attachment to the medial collateral ligament and capsule.
\[ \boxed{\text{Less mobile}} \]
Both menisci are crescent shaped pads of fibrocartilage that sit on top of the tibia and cushion the knee joint. The lateral meniscus is almost a closed ring and is not attached to the lateral collateral ligament, so it can glide and shift with knee movement. The medial meniscus is more open in shape and its outer edge is firmly attached to the deep fibers of the medial collateral ligament and to the joint capsule.
Step 2: Understand why this attachment matters.
Because the medial meniscus is tied down to the medial collateral ligament, it cannot move out of the way as freely when the knee twists or bends suddenly. The lateral meniscus, being loosely attached, can shift with the femur and tibia during rotation and largely escape being pinched.
Step 3: Link reduced mobility to injury.
During injuries that combine knee flexion with rotation, such as a sudden twist while the foot is planted, a mobile structure can slide away from danger, but a fixed structure gets trapped and sheared between the femur and tibia. Since the medial meniscus is relatively fixed, it takes the brunt of this shearing force and tears more often.
Step 4: Rule out the other options.
The medial meniscus is not more mobile than the lateral one, so option (A) is the opposite of the truth. Thickness is not the main reason for its higher injury rate, so option (C) does not explain the mechanism. The medial meniscus is firmly, not loosely, attached at its capsular margin, so option (D) is also incorrect.
Step 5: Final answer.
The medial meniscus tears more often because it is relatively less mobile due to its firm attachment to the medial collateral ligament and capsule.
\[ \boxed{\text{Less mobile}} \]
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