Comparative anatomy of the meniscofemoral ligament in humans and some domestic mammals.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence, position and relative sizes of the meniscofemoral ligaments (MFL) in three quadrupeds and humans and relate these to the caudal slope of the lateral tibial plateau. Canine, ovine and equine stifles and human knees were dissected to identify the presence of MFLs, their obliquity in relation to the caudal cruciate ligaments (CCL), the relative size and shape of the MFLs compared with the CCL, the points of femoral attachment of the MFLs and CCL, and the distance between the MFLs and CCL at their midpoints. The lateral tibial condyle was divided sagittally with a handsaw and the caudal slope was measured. An MFL was present in all quadrupeds. It was caudal to the CCL, being analogous to the human posterior MFL. There was no structure analogous to the human anterior MFL, a structure that has a different femoral attachment from the human posterior MFL and MFLs in other species examined. The meniscotibial attachments were of varying sizes. The size ratio between the MFL and CCL was greater in all three quadrupeds than it was in the human knee. The MFL lies more obliquely than the CCL in all species examined. The caudal tibial slope was steeper in the quadrupeds. In the stifle joints of quadrupeds, the MFL is a substantial structure and appears to be related to the caudal tibial slope. It is known to resist caudal translation of the tibia in conjunction with the lateral meniscus. This must be borne in mind when considering its function in the human knee.
Publication Date: 2007-02-03 PubMed ID: 17266668DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0264.2006.00718.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research explores the presence, position, and size of the meniscofemoral ligament in humans compared to certain quadrupeds such as dogs, sheep and horses, with regard to the posterior incline of the lateral tibial plateau. A meaningful understanding of the meniscofemoral ligament in these quadrupeds may shed light on its function in the human knee.
Methodology
- The study involved dissection of the knees of dogs, sheep, horses as well as humans with the aim of identifying the presence of the meniscofemoral ligament (MFL), their inclination towards the caudal (or posterior) cruciate ligament (CCL), and the relative size and shape of the MFLs when compared with the CCL.
- Other factors considered included the points of femoral attachment of the MFLs and CCL, the distance between the MFLs and the CCL at their midpoints, and the caudal slope of the lateral tibial plateau—the outer area of the upper segment of the shin bone. This was done through careful division of the lateral tibial condyle using a handsaw and subsequent measurement of the caudal slope.
Findings
- An MFL was found in all the quadrupeds examined. In all cases, it was positioned posterior to the CCL, a condition similar to the human posterior MFL.
- No structure was found that resembles the human anterior MFL, a different ligament that attaches to a different part of the femur compared to the human posterior MFL and MFLs of other species.
- The study found that the points where the MFL attaches to the meniscus (cushioning cartilage between the bones in the knee) varied in size.
- The size ratio between the MFL and the CCL was larger in the quadrupeds compared to humans.
- The MFL was found to be more diagonal or sloping compared to the CCL in all species studied.
- Quadrupeds showed a steeper posterior tibial slope compared to humans.
Interpretation
- The MFL in the knee joints of quadrupeds is a significant structure and its positioning seems to be connected to the steepness of the posterior tibial slope.
- Given its position and the results of this study, the MFL appears to prevent the shin bone from moving backwards, working alongside the lateral meniscus.
- This knowledge is crucial when considering the function of the MFL in the human knee, demonstrating the need for deeper understanding of this ligament in humans.
Cite This Article
APA
Gupte CM, Bull AM, Murray R, Amis AA.
(2007).
Comparative anatomy of the meniscofemoral ligament in humans and some domestic mammals.
Anat Histol Embryol, 36(1), 47-52.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0264.2006.00718.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Biomechanics Section, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Domestic / anatomy & histology
- Dogs / anatomy & histology
- Femur / anatomy & histology
- Horses / anatomy & histology
- Humans
- Knee Joint / anatomy & histology
- Ligaments, Articular / anatomy & histology
- Sheep / anatomy & histology
- Species Specificity
- Stifle / anatomy & histology
- Tibia / anatomy & histology
Citations
This article has been cited 17 times.- Corbí-Aguirre F, Forriol F. MRI study of the cruciate ligaments and menisco-femoral ligaments of the knee. Musculoskelet Surg 2023 Sep;107(3):295-303.
- Ribitsch I, Baptista PM, Lange-Consiglio A, Melotti L, Patruno M, Jenner F, Schnabl-Feichter E, Dutton LC, Connolly DJ, van Steenbeek FG, Dudhia J, Penning LC. Large Animal Models in Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering: To Do or Not to Do. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020;8:972.
- Ohori T, Mae T, Shino K, Tachibana Y, Fujie H, Yoshikawa H, Nakata K. Complementary Function of the Meniscofemoral Ligament and Lateral Meniscus Posterior Root to Stabilize the Lateral Meniscus Posterior Horn: A Biomechanical Study in a Porcine Knee Model. Orthop J Sports Med 2019 Jan;7(1):2325967118821605.
- Krupkova O, Smolders L, Wuertz-Kozak K, Cook J, Pozzi A. The Pathobiology of the Meniscus: A Comparison Between the Human and Dog. Front Vet Sci 2018;5:73.
- Brzezinski A, Ghodbane SA, Patel JM, Perry BA, Gatt CJ, Dunn MG. (*) The Ovine Model for Meniscus Tissue Engineering: Considerations of Anatomy, Function, Implantation, and Evaluation. Tissue Eng Part C Methods 2017 Dec;23(12):829-841.
- Cone SG, Warren PB, Fisher MB. Rise of the Pigs: Utilization of the Porcine Model to Study Musculoskeletal Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering During Skeletal Growth. Tissue Eng Part C Methods 2017 Nov;23(11):763-780.
- Takroni T, Laouar L, Adesida A, Elliott JA, Jomha NM. Anatomical study: comparing the human, sheep and pig knee meniscus. J Exp Orthop 2016 Dec;3(1):35.
- Bachy M, Sherifi I, Zadegan F, Petrover D, Petite H, Hannouche D. Anterior cruciate ligament surgery in the rabbit. J Orthop Surg Res 2013 Aug 19;8:27.
- Ocal MK, Sevil-Kilimci F, Yildirim IG. Geometry of the femoral condyles in dogs. Vet Res Commun 2012 Mar;36(1):1-6.
- Proffen BL, McElfresh M, Fleming BC, Murray MM. A comparative anatomical study of the human knee and six animal species. Knee 2012 Aug;19(4):493-9.
- Lertwanich P, Martins CA, Kato Y, Ingham SJ, Kramer S, Linde-Rosen M, Smolinski P, Fu FH. Contribution of the meniscofemoral ligament as a restraint to the posterior tibial translation in a porcine knee. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2010 Sep;18(9):1277-81.
- Mastrangelo AN, Haus BM, Vavken P, Palmer MP, Machan JT, Murray MM. Immature animals have higher cellular density in the healing anterior cruciate ligament than adolescent or adult animals. J Orthop Res 2010 Aug;28(8):1100-6.
- Tischer T, Ronga M, Tsai A, Ingham SJ, Ekdahl M, Smolinski P, Fu FH. Biomechanics of the goat three bundle anterior cruciate ligament. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2009 Aug;17(8):935-40.
- Coulier B. Signification of the unusual delineation of the anterior meniscofemoral ligament of Humphrey during knee arthro-CT. Surg Radiol Anat 2009 Feb;31(2):121-8.
- Amadi HO, Gupte CM, Lie DT, McDermott ID, Amis AA, Bull AM. A biomechanical study of the meniscofemoral ligaments and their contribution to contact pressure reduction in the knee. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2008 Nov;16(11):1004-8.
- Dzidzishvili L, Bi AS, Ostojic M, Chahla J. Combined lateral meniscus posterior root and meniscofemoral ligament injuries increase tibiofemoral forces and compromise rotational stability in ACL-deficient and reconstructed knees: A systematic review and meta-analysis of biomechanical studies. J Exp Orthop 2025 Apr;12(2):e70227.
- Nagai-Tanima M, Ishida K, Ishikawa A, Yamada S, Takakuwa T, Aoyama T. Three-Dimensional Imaging Analysis of the Developmental Process of Posterior Meniscofemoral Ligaments in Rat Embryos. Cells Tissues Organs 2024;213(5):357-367.
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