The knowledge of meniscal anatomic variants and of the normal perimeniscal structures is essential to understand magnetic resonance imaging studies of the knee, both for the diagnosis of meniscal lesions and to avoid potential interpretation pitfalls. The present article reviews anatomic variants that change the size, shape and stability of the menisci, including the different types of discoid menisci, other less frequent meniscal malformations and the meniscal ossicle. Additionally, the anatomy of perimeniscal structures, particularly those including the meniscocapsular, intermeniscal, meniscofemoral ligaments and other menisco-ligamentous structures is reviewed.
Knee; Discoid meniscus; Anatomic variants; Magnetic resonance imaging
