MACRO-MICRO-ANATOMY OF ARTERIES OF THE MENISCI OF KNEE JOINT / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

In order to study the arteries of menisci, both inside and outside themselves, a series of specimens were used and prepared by macro-micro-anatomical, histological, translucent and SEM methods. The arteries of the posterior part of menisci come from the posterior medial and lateral genicular arteries. Those of their anterior part come from the inferior lateral genieular artery, superior and inferior medial genicular arteries, or descending genicular artery, and may be divided into three types according to their sources. The meniscal branches of these arteries anastomose with each other to form a perimeniscal arterial circle which is continuous at its anterior part and interrupted beneath the tibial collateral ligament and popliteal tendon to form an avascular area. The arterial circle is important for collateral circulation around the knee and also provides an anatomical basis for the selection of appraoches in meniscal operation. The nourishing arteriolae, arising from the arterial circle from an arteriolar network around the menisci and give off arteriolae into the body and horn of the menisci. Healing process of the injured meniscus is intimately related with the vascular architecture inside it and recover more easily in the horn and peripheral part of the body due to rich microvasculature in these parts.