Regional Comparisons of Nano-Mechanical Properties of Deep Zone Menisci

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a dehabilitating condition that is highly prevalent in today’s society, frequently leading to a knee replacement. OA is characterized by loss of articular cartilage. Previous research has shown articular cartilage preservation is dependent on the structural integrity of the menisci [1, 2]. The human menisci are two crescent shaped fibrocartilaginous structures that provide fundamental load distribution within the knee joint, ultimately aiding to attenuate stresses at the tibio-femoral site [3–5].