Meniscofemoral ligaments--structural and material properties.

The meniscofemoral ligaments (MFLs) of 28 human cadaveric knees were studied to determine their incidence, structural and material properties. Using the Race-Amis casting method for measurement, the mean cross-sectional area for the anterior MFL (aMFL) was 14.7 mm(2) (+/-14.8mm(2)) whilst that of the posterior MFL (pMFL) was 20.9 mm(2) (+/-11.6mm(2)). The ligaments were isolated and tensile tested in a materials testing machine. The mean loads to failure were 300.5 N (+/-155.0 N) for the aMFL and 302.5 N (+/-157.9 N) for the pMFL, with elastic moduli of 281 (+/-239 MPa) and 227 MPa (+/-128 MPa), respectively. These significant anatomical and material properties suggest a function for the MFL in the biomechanics of the knee, and should be borne in mind when considering hypotheses on MFL function. Such hypotheses include roles for the ligaments in knee stability and guiding meniscal motion.