A Study on the Morphometry of a Medial Meniscus in the Knee Joint of Human Cadavers in the South Indian Population

Abstract

The knee joint is a complex system containing various hard and soft tissue components necessary for functioning in a coordinated manner. The menisci help to deepen the tibial plateau. Knowledge of the dimension of menisci in the knee joint is of paramount importance in arthroscopic surgery and the management of injuries due to sports or degeneration. The present study aims to describe the morphometric data of the medial meniscus and document the morphometric variation in the medial menisci. MethodologyThis study was conducted in the department of anatomy in two medical colleges under MGR University by measuring the dimensions of 100 medial menisci taken from 50 formalin-fixed embalmed cadavers. The width and thickness of the medial menisci were measured using digital vernier calipers. The outer and inner circumferences were measured using a measuring tape, non-elastic threads, and metallic pins. The area of the medial meniscus and the tibial plateau was measured by counting the small squares present in the circumference of the menisci drawn over the graph paper. The weight of the medial menisci was measured using the electronic weigh scale. ResultsThe widest part of the medial meniscus was the posterior one-third, and the narrowest part was the anterior one-third. The thickest part was the middle one-third, followed by the anterior one-third. The average inner and outer circumferences of the menisci were 6.25 cm and 10.05 cm, respectively. The medial meniscus covers more than half of the area of the tibial plateau. ConclusionThe present study provides a good understanding of the morphometric features of the medial menisci and will be of great help for managing knee joint pathologies and designing prostheses.