• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.52-57
• /
• 2003

Purpose : To evaluate the morphologic measurement and microvasculature of the normal human meniscus in Korean and to compare the difference of microvasculature according to the age and anatomical location. Materials and methods : Menisci of 21 cadavers divided into 3 groups according to the age. Each meniscus was divided into 10 parts of which the width and area of microvasculature were measured. Results : The average width of the medial and lateral menisci were $10.49{\pm}02.92mm$ and $10.55{\pm}2.05mm$, respectively. The average area of the microvasculature measured $20.29{\pm}8.44\%$ in the medial meniscus and $18.99{\pm}7.03\%$ in the lateral meniscus. The microvasculature of the medial meniscus was most abundant in the anterior horn and least abundant in the posterior horn (p<0.05). The lateral meniscus showed the most vessels in the posterior horn (p<0.05). The microvasculature of popliteal hiatus was not avascular but hypovascular. The area of microvasculature decreased with increasing age in all parts of the medial meniscus and body and posterior horn of the lateral meniscus (p<0.05). Conclusion : Differences in the anatomical distribution of the vessels were noted of both the medial and lateral menisci. The area of microvasculature generally decreased proportionally with increasing age in both medial and lateral meniscus.