Knee Surgery Glossary

The meniscus cartilage can be seen between the upper and lower bones. The articular cartilage covers the surface of the bones.

Articular cartilage — material that covers the ends of the bones of a joint. In the knee, articular cartilage covers the ends of the femur and tibia, and the inner side of the patella (kneecap).

Meniscus cartilage — two crescent-shaped rubbery wedges of cartilage that act as shock absorbers between the femur (upper leg bone) and tibia (lower leg bone). The meniscus cartilage on the inner side of the knee is the medial meniscus; the meniscus cartilage on the outside is the lateral meniscus.