US Medical Term · anatomy
Meniscus
Menisco
Where are the menisci?
MedlinePlus describes the menisci as two cartilage rings that are in each knee. One is on the inner side of the knee (medial meniscus) and one is on the outer side (lateral meniscus). The anatomy sense in the Real Academia Española dictionary describes a crescent-shaped cartilage that forms part of the knee joint.
Terms used around a meniscus tear
MedlinePlus says meniscus tears refer to tears in this shock-absorbing cartilage of the knee. After examining the knee, a health care provider may order x-rays or an MRI of the knee. MedlinePlus states that when a meniscus is torn, it is commonly removed by knee arthroscopy. It also describes meniscal allograft transplantation, surgery in which a meniscus is placed into the knee, and lists meniscus transplant among that article's alternative names.
What it means
The meniscus is a c-shaped piece of cartilage in your knee joint, and you have two in each knee. MedlinePlus describes meniscus cartilage as a tough but flexible tissue that acts as a cushion between the ends of bones in a joint. The meniscus forms a cushion between the bones in the knee to protect the joint: it acts like a shock-absorber, helps distribute the weight to the cartilage, and helps to stabilize the knee joint. It can tear, for example when a person twists or over-flexes the knee, and MedlinePlus notes that as you get older the meniscus becomes more brittle and easier to tear. With a meniscus injury, a person may feel a "pop" and may have knee pain, knee swelling, and locking or catching of the knee.
Meniscus in Spanish
- Spanish term
- Menisco
- Gender and article
- masculine: el menisco
- Pronunciation
- meh-NEES-koh
Menisco is the word MedlinePlus en español uses: El menisco es un pedazo de cartílago en forma de C en la articulación de la rodilla. It is masculine, el menisco, and the plural is los meniscos: Los meniscos son dos anillos cartilaginosos que se encuentran en cada rodilla. For the two menisci, the MedlinePlus en español article on the transplant writes menisco medio for the one on the inner side of the knee and menisco lateral for the one on the outer side. The Real Academia Española dictionary also lists senses of menisco in physics and in optics.
A tear is a ruptura de menisco, which MedlinePlus en español explains with the word desgarro: Las rupturas de menisco se refieren a un desgarro en este cartílago amortiguador de la rodilla. Related vocabulary on the same pages: amortiguador (shock absorber), trasplante de menisco (meniscus transplant), artroscopia de rodilla (knee arthroscopy), resonancia magnética (MRI) and la rodilla se bloquea o se pega (locking or catching of the knee).
Phrases for an appointment
What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:
| Who | English | Spanish |
|---|---|---|
| Patient | I twisted my knee playing soccer and felt a pop. | Me torcí la rodilla jugando al fútbol y sentí un chasquido. |
| Clinician | Does your knee lock or catch when you walk? | ¿La rodilla se le bloquea o se le pega al caminar? |
| Patient | Yes, and it swelled up the day after the injury. | Sí, y se me hinchó al día siguiente de la lesión. |
| Clinician | Is it hard for you to squat? | ¿Le cuesta ponerse en cuclillas? |
| Patient | Could it be a meniscus tear? | ¿Podría ser una ruptura de menisco? |
| Clinician | I am going to order an MRI of the knee to look at the meniscus. | Voy a pedirle una resonancia magnética de la rodilla para ver el menisco. |
| Patient | The report says my meniscus is torn. What does that mean? | El informe dice que tengo roto el menisco. ¿Qué significa eso? |
| Clinician | The meniscus is the cartilage that works as a shock absorber in your knee. | El menisco es el cartílago que funciona como amortiguador en su rodilla. |
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Meniscus |
| Spanish (Español) | Menisco |
| Chinese (中文) | 半月板 |
| Korean (한국어) | 반월판 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Sụn chêm |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Meniskus |
| Portuguese (Português) | Menisco |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | หมอนรองกระดูกเข่า |
| Japanese (日本語) | 半月板 |
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Your right to an interpreter in the United States
If English is not your primary language and you have difficulty communicating in English, you may need an interpreter or a translated document when you visit a doctor or dentist, go to the emergency room or pick up a prescription. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights states that two federal laws, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, require programs that receive its funding to provide language access services free of charge.
You can ask when you make the appointment or at the front desk: "I need an interpreter, please." «Necesito un intérprete, por favor.»
More terms: Bones, joints and muscles
All terms in this area: Bones, joints and muscles — Huesos, articulaciones y músculos
Sources
- Meniscus tears - aftercare: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia — MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
- Atención postratamiento - rupturas de menisco: MedlinePlus enciclopedia médica — MedlinePlus en español, Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina
- Meniscal allograft transplantation : MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia — MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
- Trasplante de aloinjerto meniscal : MedlinePlus enciclopedia médica — MedlinePlus en español, Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina
- menisco — Diccionario de la lengua española — Real Academia Española / ASALE
- Limited English Proficiency (LEP): Your Right to Language Assistance Services — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights
This page is a language reference. It is not medical advice.
Last reviewed: October 8, 2026