The knee joint is composed of three bones. The thigh bone (femur) sits on top of the larger leg bone (tibia). The kneecap (patella) glides in a groove on the end of the thigh bone. The menisci are two C-shaped cartilage discs that are located on the end of the tibia.
The menisci help to support your body weight and act as shock absorbers when you walk or run. They also allow your knee bones to glide easily during motion. The menisci are vulnerable to injury, especially during twisting motions used for sports. Some tears in certain parts of the meniscus may heal on their own, but in many cases surgery is necessary.
Meniscus Tear Symptoms
You may hear a popping noise when the meniscus tears. Swelling, pain and tightness may increase over several days. You may not be able to straighten your knee, and it may buckle, catch or lock in position making it difficult for you to put weight on your leg or to walk.
