The transverse (intermeniscal) ligament of the knee connects the anterior horns of the medial and lateral menisci, coordinating their anterior movement during knee extension. Present in 60% of individuals, it can be confused with a meniscal tear on MRI — the normal transverse ligament appears as a low-signal structure anterior to the tibial spines between the meniscal horns.
| Origin | Anterior horn of the lateral meniscus |
|---|---|
| Insertion | Anterior horn of the medial meniscus |
| Actions | Connects anterior horns of both menisci to coordinate meniscal movement; prevents independent anterior displacement of the meniscal horns |
|---|
The transverse meniscal ligament is a normal structure that can be mistaken for an anterior meniscal horn tear on MRI by radiologists unfamiliar with its anatomy. When visible, it appears as a low-signal band connecting the anterior horns just anterior to the ACL. True meniscal tears are distinguished by their association with joint line pain and clinical examination findings.
Normal intermeniscal transverse ligament mistaken for anterior meniscal horn tear on MRI — clinical correlation and comparison MRI confirm the normal variant.
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