The knee has two cartilage disks, called menisci, that are attached to the top portion of the tibia (the large lower leg bone). The lateral meniscus is located on the outer side of the knee joint, and the medial meniscus is on the inner side. These two wedge-shaped discs form a cradle for the cartilage covered condyles of the femur. The menisci absorb shock, and serve to cushion the knee. An injury to a meniscus may take the form of a small or large tear, a split in the disc, or a frayed or roughly torn area.
