The menisci are pads of cartilage in the knee joint. A tear can result from a trauma, such as twisting the leg, or age-related degeneration of the knee joint. It can lead to pain, swelling, and a ...

The term meniscus comes from the Greek word for "crescent" because of its moon-like shape. This band forms a concave support pad for the thigh bone to rest on. Without the meniscus, you wouldn't be ...