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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Destabilization of the Medial Meniscus and Cartilage Scratch Murine Model of Accelerated Osteoarthritis
Published on: July 6, 2022
Relationship between ultrastructure and biomechanical properties of the knee meniscus
A Gabrion1, P Aimedieu, Z Laya
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Amiens University Hospital, Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique, Place Victor Pauchet, 80000 Amiens, France. gabrion.antoine@chu-amiens.fr
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to determine the biomechanical properties of the knee meniscus and to relate them to its ultrastructure. The knee joint menisci are semicircular, fibrocartilaginous structures interposed between the femoral and tibial condyles. For a long time, they were considered to be embryologic vestiges. This study describes the response of the knee joint meniscus to circumferential, radial and axial compressive forces. The results show an anisotropic response of the knee joint meniscus to unconfined compression. The Young's modulus increased approximately twofold between vertical and circumferential or radial directions with a 10 mm/min-compression rate. This response is probably a direct consequence of the orientation of collagen fibres.
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