[Menisci and knee stability]

The menisci are of primary importance for the knee and its stability. They assure functional congruence guided by the crucial ligaments. They break up the greatest amount of contact-impact force and limit "elastically" rotation and translation movements. They are polyfunctional. That is the reason why it is so difficult to measure their physiologic behavior and mechanical effects. The medial and lateral compartments, and therefore the medial and lateral meniscus function and anatomy, are not symmetric but are quite different. The menisci are important for "fine tuning" in the control of normal motion and its limits. By achieving functional congruity they create stability ex vacuo, as in the shoulder joint.