The ligament of Humphrey is the anterior meniscofemoral ligament, passing from the lateral meniscus posterior horn anterior to the PCL to the medial femoral condyle. Present in 25-30% of knees (often together with the posterior ligament of Wrisberg), it assists PCL function and restrains the lateral meniscus. On MRI its rounded structure anterior to the PCL can be mistaken for a bucket-handle meniscal tear fragment.
| Origin | Lateral meniscus posterior horn |
|---|---|
| Insertion | Medial femoral condyle — passes anterior to the PCL |
| Actions | Assists PCL in resisting posterior tibial translation; restrains lateral meniscus posterior horn |
|---|
The ligaments of Humphrey and Wrisberg are the two meniscofemoral ligaments that stabilise the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus to the femur. Their presence is important in PCL reconstruction planning as they provide accessory PCL function. Their absence on MRI does not indicate pathology — they are simply absent in 70% of knees.
Ligament of Humphrey appearing as a rounded structure anterior to the PCL on MRI, mimicking a bucket-handle meniscal tear fragment — a normal variant.
