The menisci are two tough pads of cartilage located in the knee joint between the thigh bone (femur) and the shin bone (tibia). One is located on the inner knee joint surface (the medial meniscus), and one on the outer knee joint surface (the lateral meniscus). Their job is to provide a good fit for the femur on the tibia so body weight is distributed evenly across the knee joint.

Symptoms
Individuals who experience a meniscus tear usually experience pain and swelling as the primary symptoms. Another common complaint is joint locking, or the inability to completely straighten the joint. This is due to a piece of the torn cartilage physically impinging the joint mechanism of the knee.
The most common symptoms of a meniscus tear are:

• Knee pain
• Swelling of the knee
• Tenderness when pressing on the meniscus
• Popping or clicking within the knee
• Limited motion of the knee joint