The meniscofemoral ligament is a fibrous structure running from the posterior horn (the part at the back) of the lateral meniscus splitting to pass around the posterior cruciate ligament to reach the medial femoral condyle.
Page updated July 2024 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)
Illustration of the back of the knee showing how the meniscofemoral ligament splits to pass in front of and behind the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL).
From the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus, the ligaments pass to either side of the PCL to attach to the roof of the notch on the medial side (which has been cut away in this illustration).
Complicated anatomy of meniscofemoral ligament
The meniscofemoral ligament attaches to the back of the lateral meniscus and then splits to attach on the femur, one part going in front (ligament of Humphrey) of the posterior cruciate ligament to attach to the lateral side of the medial condyle of the femur and the other behind it (ligament of Wrisberg) to attach to the medial condyle.
The complicated anatomy at the back of the lateral meniscus often results in radiological confusion, where the ligament of Humphrey may be mistaken for the posterior cruciate ligament and the ligament of Wrisberg may be mistaken for a meniscal tear.
The ligaments help to stabilise the knee.
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Quote from peer-reviewed paper:
Researchers have "...demonstrated an interplay between them and the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus during knee flexion and extension"...but their presence is variable and their role uncertain. The main issue is that they can be confused on MRI scan with a meniscal tear.
Citation: Deckey DG, Tummala S, Verhey JT, Hassebrock JD, Dulle D, Miller MD, Chhabra A. Prevalence, Biomechanics, and Pathologies of the Meniscofemoral Ligaments: A Systematic Review. Arthrosc Sports Med Rehabil. 2021 Nov 26;3(6):e2093-e2101. doi: 10.1016/j.asmr.2021.09.006. PMID: 34977667; PMCID: PMC8689266.