The menisci are two fibrocartilaginous structures in the knee that are semilunar in superior view and wedge-like in cross section. Their deformable shape and mobile nature serve to dynamically maintain congruency between the rounded femoral condyles and the relatively flat tibial plateau throughout various degrees of knee loading and flexion. The menisci thereby more than double the contact area for load transmission in both the medial and lateral knee joint compartments, reducing stress on the articular cartilage.