aMFL Anatomy

This section describes the Anterior Meniscofemoral Ligament (aMFL) anatomy, including the femoral insertion sites.

General Description

The Anterior Meniscofemoral Ligament (aMFL), also known as ligament of Humphrey, arises from the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus, runs anterior to the PCL and inserts at the distal edge of the femoral PCL attachment [noa18]. The average ratio of the cross sectional area of Humphrey to that of the PCL within the same knee is 11.9% ± 5.7% [KHC+94]. This ligament may be confused for the PCL [noa18].

  • Femoral insertion: Inserts proximally to the inner aspect of the medial condyle of the femur, between the distal margin of the femoral attachment of the PCL and the edge of the condylar articular cartilage [GSM+02].
  • Meniscal insertion: The meniscal attachments of the pMFL followed its orientation in the sagittal plane and attaches to posterior horn of lateral meniscus. aMFL attachment to the meniscus is more anteriorly than pMFL [GSM+02].
  • length: 28.3 mm (range, 20.0-37.0 mm) [YH91].
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Fig. 35 Photograph showing an aMFL in a cadaver left knee. This clear view is provided by an anterior approach after removing the ACL and collateral ligaments [GSM+02].

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Fig. 37 Femoral insertion of aFML in relation to the insertion of the PCL. Diagrammatic views of the left lateral femoral condyle in sagittal section demonstrating its anterior (An) and posterior (Po) aspects. (B) Specimen with aMFL (a) and PCL. (C) Specimen with PCL and coexisting aMFL (a) and pMFL (p):cite:gupte_review_2003.

[noa18](1, 2) Meniscofemoral ligaments - Humphery and Wisberg Ligaments. January 2018. URL: http://boneandspine.com/meniscofemoral-ligaments/.
[GSM+02](1, 2, 3) Chinmay Gupte, A Smith, Ian Mcdermott, Anthony Bull, Rhidian Thomas, and A A Amis. Meniscofemoral ligaments revisited. Anatomical study, age correlation and clinical implications. The Journal of bone and joint surgery. British volume, 84:846–51, September 2002. doi:10.1302/0301-620X.84B6.0840846.
[KHC+94]T. Kusayama, C. D. Harner, G. J. Carlin, J. W. Xerogeanes, and B. A. Smith. Anatomical and biomechanical characteristics of human meniscofemoral ligaments. Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy: official journal of the ESSKA, 2(4):234–237, 1994.
[YH91]M. Yamamoto and K. Hirohata. Anatomical study on the menisco-femoral ligaments of the knee. The Kobe Journal of Medical Sciences, 37(4-5):209–226, October 1991.