Meniscal Injuries

Want to read the rest of this paper? Join Essayworld today to view this entire essay and over 50,000 other term papers

the total stability of the knee, assist in the control of normal knee motion, and provide shock absorption against compression forces between the tibia and the femur (Booher, 2000). Articular cartilage covers the ends of the bones that make up the joint. The articular cartilage surface is a tough, very slick material that allows the surfaces to slide against one another without damage to either surface. This ability of the meniscus to spread out the force on the joint surfaces as we walk is important because it protects the articular cartilage from excessive forces occurring in any one area on the joint surface, leading to degeneration over time (Sutton, 1999).
Blood is supplied to each meniscus by the medial genicular artery. Each meniscus can be divided into three circumferential zones: the red-red zone is the outer or peripheral one third and has a good vascular supply; the red-white zone is the middle one third and has a minimal blood supply; and the white-white zone on the ...

Get instant access to over 50,000 essays. Write better papers. Get better grades. Already a member? Login

crushed between the femoral condyles and tibial plateaus. The damaged sustained by the menisci varies, ranging from a very small tear along the periphery of the cartilage to a large longitudinal tear which is generally referred to as a "bucket-handle tear". The menisci are often injured by twisting activities during weight bearing, but also can be direct blows to the knee or chronic trauma (Booher, 2000).

Acute injuries to the meniscus occur when the athlete suddenly twists or extends their knee. The athlete more often tears the medial meniscus which is less mobile with more peripheral attachments. Tears occur as the athlete cuts with their knee bent with their foot planted, thus ...

Succeed in your coursework without stepping into a library. Get access to a growing library of notes, book reports, and research papers in 2 minutes or less.

CITE THIS PAGE: