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Vascular Anatomy of Menisci



- Discussion:
    - limited peripheral blood supply originates predominantly from the lateral and medial geniculate arteries (both inferior and superior)
          - these supply the meniscus through a vascular synovial covering of anterior and posterior horn attachments;
          - branches from these vessels arborize to form a perimeniscal capillary plexus within the synovial and capsular tissues of knee joint;
          - this synovial network of vessels extends for one to three mm over articular surfaces of menisci & contain small, terminally looped vessels;
    - vascular supply to meniscus is age dependent;
          - in adult, peripheral 3 mm of the menisci as well as anterior and posterior horns are well vascularized;
                 - tears that occur between 3 to 5-mm zone have variable vascularity;
                 - tears greater than 5 mm from the meniscosynovial junction are generally avascular;
          - degree of vascular penetration is 10 - 30 % of width of medial meniscus and 10 to 25 % of the width of the lateral meniscus



The microvasculature of the meniscus and its response to injury. An experimental study in the dog.

Microvasculature of the human meniscus.  

Vascularity for healing of meniscus repairs.