(はんげつばん)

はんげつばん
noun
meniscus (knee cartilage)
1. meniscus; crescent-shaped cartilage in the knee
The C-shaped cartilage pad in the knee joint that acts as a shock absorber between the thighbone and shinbone. Each knee has two menisci (inner and outer). Meniscus injuries are common in sports.
半月板(はんげつばん)損傷(そんしょう)した。
I injured my meniscus.
サッカーの試合(しあい)半月板(はんげつばん)(いた)めた。
I hurt my meniscus during a soccer match.
半月板(はんげつばん)手術(しゅじゅつ)をしてから、完全(かんぜん)復帰(ふっき)するまで半年(はんとし)かかった。
It took half a year to fully recover after meniscus surgery.

Composed of 半月(はんげつ) (half-moon, crescent) + (ばん) (board, plate), describing the crescent shape of the cartilage. The name comes from its half-moon appearance when viewed from above.

Meniscus injuries are one of the most common knee injuries in sports, particularly in activities involving twisting motions like soccer, basketball, and skiing. The word frequently appears in sports news when athletes are sidelined.

Each knee has two menisci: the 内側(うちがわ)半月板(はんげつばん) (medial meniscus) and the 外側(そとがわ)半月板(はんげつばん) (lateral meniscus).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 半月板(はんげつばん)損傷(そんしょう): meniscus injury/tear
  • 半月板(はんげつばん)手術(しゅじゅつ): meniscus surgery
  • 半月板(はんげつばん)(いた)める: to hurt one's meniscus
  • 内側(うちがわ)半月板(はんげつばん): medial meniscus
  • 外側(そとがわ)半月板(はんげつばん): lateral meniscus

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 軟骨(なんこつ): cartilage — the broader category of tissue
  • 靭帯(じんたい): ligament — another common knee injury site
  • (ひざ): knee — the joint where the meniscus is located