Question:easy
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:
Show Hint
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
Show Solution
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Compare how each meniscus sits in the joint.
The lateral meniscus is almost a full circle and has no attachment to the lateral collateral ligament, so it floats somewhat freely over the tibial surface. The medial meniscus is a more open crescent, and its rim is fixed to the deep part of the medial collateral ligament and the joint capsule.
Step 2: Turn this anatomy into a mechanical idea.
A structure that is tied down cannot slide out of the path of a moving joint surface. When the knee bends and twists at the same time, a fixed structure gets squeezed between the femur above and the tibia below, while a loosely held structure can slip aside and avoid the squeeze.
Step 3: Apply this to the two menisci.
Since the medial meniscus is firmly fixed by its ligament attachment, it has far less freedom to move during a twisting injury than the lateral meniscus does. This lower mobility is exactly why it ends up trapped and torn more often.
Step 4: Check the distractors.
It is not more mobile, that is backwards. Its thickness is not the deciding factor in tear frequency. It is not loosely attached at the femur, the opposite is true, it is firmly tied to the medial collateral ligament.
Step 5: Conclude.
\[ \boxed{\text{Less mobile}} \]
The lateral meniscus is almost a full circle and has no attachment to the lateral collateral ligament, so it floats somewhat freely over the tibial surface. The medial meniscus is a more open crescent, and its rim is fixed to the deep part of the medial collateral ligament and the joint capsule.
Step 2: Turn this anatomy into a mechanical idea.
A structure that is tied down cannot slide out of the path of a moving joint surface. When the knee bends and twists at the same time, a fixed structure gets squeezed between the femur above and the tibia below, while a loosely held structure can slip aside and avoid the squeeze.
Step 3: Apply this to the two menisci.
Since the medial meniscus is firmly fixed by its ligament attachment, it has far less freedom to move during a twisting injury than the lateral meniscus does. This lower mobility is exactly why it ends up trapped and torn more often.
Step 4: Check the distractors.
It is not more mobile, that is backwards. Its thickness is not the deciding factor in tear frequency. It is not loosely attached at the femur, the opposite is true, it is firmly tied to the medial collateral ligament.
Step 5: Conclude.
\[ \boxed{\text{Less mobile}} \]
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