Posterior meniscotibial ligament (Lateral meniscus)
Ligamentum meniscotibiale posterius (Meniscus lateralis)
The fibrous root that anchors the back end of the lateral meniscus to the posterior intercondylar area of the tibia.
At a glance
- English
- Posterior meniscotibial ligament (Lateral meniscus)
- Latin (TA2)
- Ligamentum meniscotibiale posterius (Meniscus lateralis)
- System
- Ligament
- Region
- Lower limb
- Side
- Paired, left and right
About the posterior meniscotibial ligament (lateral meniscus)
The posterior horn of the lateral meniscus is fixed to the tibia by the posterior meniscotibial ligament, a short root attaching to the posterior intercondylar area just behind the lateral intercondylar tubercle. It lies in front of the attachments of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus and of the posterior cruciate ligament.
The posterior horn also has links to the femur. One or both meniscofemoral ligaments leave it and run upwards and medially to the lateral surface of the medial femoral condyle: the posterior meniscofemoral ligament passes behind the posterior cruciate ligament and the anterior one in front of it. Near the back of the meniscus the tendon of popliteus passes through a gap in the capsule, the popliteal hiatus, and some fibres of popliteus attach to the meniscus, drawing it backwards as the knee unlocks and bends.
As with the other roots, the attachment lets the meniscus act as a hoop that turns compression into tension around its rim. Tears of the posterior lateral root are classically associated with rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament, occurring in the same twisting injury, and are looked for whenever the ACL is reconstructed. When the meniscofemoral ligaments are intact they may still hold the posterior horn, so a root tear here can cause less outward displacement of the meniscus than a comparable tear on the medial side.
Attachments and function
- Attaches from
- Posterior horn of the lateral meniscus.
- Attaches to
- Posterior intercondylar area of the tibia, behind the lateral intercondylar tubercle and in front of the posterior root of the medial meniscus.
- Function
- Anchors the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus, maintaining hoop tension under load.
- Nerve supply
- Articular branches to the knee from the tibial, common fibular, femoral and obturator nerves.
- Blood supply
- Genicular branches of the popliteal artery, which supply the attachments of the meniscal horns.
Anthromica
See the posterior meniscotibial ligament (lateral meniscus) where it really sits, with every layer of the body around it.
- Every layer, one body. Peel from muscle to bone, nerve, vessel and organ, and turn it any way.
- English and Latin. Every structure named the way your exam names it.
- Quiz until it sticks. Short drills on the structures you keep missing.
Free to start. No card.
