The medial meniscus attaches to which structures?

• A. LCL, popliteus
• B. Quadriceps only
• C. Semimembranosus only
• D. MCL, semimembranosus, and quadriceps

Answer: (D)

The medial meniscus stays firmly in place through connections to structures on the inner knee. Its strongest direct attachment is to the deep fibers of the medial collateral ligament, which anchors the meniscus to the tibial plateau and prevents excessive medial movement. The posteromedial part of the meniscus is tethered to the semimembranosus tendon, so action of that hamstring can influence the meniscal position during knee motion. In addition, the meniscus blends with the joint capsule, which ties into the surrounding muscles and tendons in the area of the quadriceps mechanism. Taken together, these connections—medial collateral ligament, semimembranosus, and the capsule-related link to the quadriceps region—explain why the medial meniscus attaches to those structures.