US Medical Term · anatomy
Meniscus
Menisco
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 |
What it means
The meniscus refers to two C-shaped pieces of rubbery cartilage in your knee — the medial meniscus on the inner side and the lateral meniscus on the outer side. They act as shock absorbers between the thigh bone (femur) and the shinbone (tibia), distributing weight evenly across the knee and helping to stabilize the joint. Meniscus tears are one of the most common knee injuries, often caused by twisting the knee while bearing weight. Symptoms include pain, swelling, stiffness, and a clicking or locking sensation. Treatment ranges from rest and physical therapy to arthroscopic surgery, depending on the size and location of the tear.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
I twisted my knee and now I think I tore my meniscus.
Me torcí la rodilla y creo que me desgarré el menisco.
The MRI showed a tear in the medial meniscus of my left knee.
La resonancia magnética mostró un desgarro en el menisco medial de la rodilla izquierda.
My knee locks up and clicks — could it be the meniscus?
La rodilla se traba y hace clic — ¿podría ser el menisco?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026