Lateral meniscus

The lateral meniscusShock absorber Cartilage on outer knee joint; cushions and stabilizes joint. is a crescent-shaped piece of fibrocartilageA tough, shock-absorbing cartilage found in intervertebral discs and menisci.. It is located on the outer (lateralAway from the midline of the body.) side of the knee joint. It sits between the lateral condyleOuter rounded bump at distal end; articulates with tibia and meniscus. of the femurThigh bone; longest and strongest bone in the body; has a large round head and prominent trochanters and the lateral condyle of the tibiaShinbone; large, weight-bearing medial bone of the lower leg.. It is one of two menisci in the knee. The other is the medial meniscusShock absorber Cartilage on inner knee joint; cushions and stabilizes joint.. The lateral meniscus is slightly smaller and more circular in shape. The lateral meniscus attaches to the tibia via its anteriorThe front of the body or toward the front when standing in the anatomical position. and posterior horns. These horns anchor it in place while still allowing some mobility.

Functionally, the lateral meniscus acts as a shock absorber, load distributor, and joint stabilizer. It helps to reduce friction between the femur and tibia during movementA fundamental property of life involving motion of the body or its parts.. It evenly distributes body weight across the joint. It also enhances the fit between the femoral and tibial surfaces. This fit improves joint stability. Unlike the medialToward the midline of the body meniscus, the lateral meniscus is more mobile. This makes it slightly less prone to injury. However, it can still be damaged during twisting or impact movements. Damage is more likely when paired with other ligament injuries like an ACL tear.