meniscus
半月板
解説 Definition
半月板とは、膝の関節内にある三日月形の軟骨構造のことです。大腿骨と脛骨の間にあり、衝撃を吸収し、関節の安定性を保つ重要な役割をしています。
A meniscus is a curved piece of cartilage in the knee that helps support movement and protect the joint. People often use the word when talking about sports injuries or medical treatment. In everyday English, it usually refers to the knee structure rather than other scientific meanings.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
膝のけがの場面とセットで覚えると定着しやすい語。sports injury, torn meniscus, meniscus repair の形でよく見かける。ACL や ligament は「靱帯」、cartilage は「軟骨」という大枠を知っておくと、meniscus はその中でも膝で骨と骨の間のクッション役をする軟骨だと整理できる。doctor says you may have a meniscus tear. という診察場面ごと覚えると、単なる専門用語で終わらず記憶に残る。medial/lateral meniscus も頻出。
This word is easiest to remember through the common medical phrase `torn meniscus`. It often appears in sports injury stories, together with words like `knee`, `cartilage`, and `repair`. If you connect it with a doctor saying, `You may have a meniscus tear,` the word becomes much easier to keep.
例文
The athlete suffered a torn meniscus in his knee during the game.
選手はゲーム中に膝の半月板を損傷しました。
The meniscus provides cushioning and stability to the knee joint.
半月板は膝の関節にクッション性と安定性を提供します。
Surgery may be necessary if the meniscus damage is severe.
半月板の損傷が重い場合、手術が必要かもしれません。
meniscus の類義語・関連語
meniscus の語源・成り立ち Etymology
meniscus はギリシャ語 mēnískos「小さな月」に由来し、語根 mēn「月」に縮小辞が付いた形です。関連語 month や menstrual も同じく「月」と結びつき、半月板が三日月形に見えるのでこの名が付いたとわかります。
Meniscus comes from Greek meniskos, meaning "little moon," based on mene "moon" with a small-form ending. It is related to English words such as month and menstrual, which also connect to the moon and its cycle. The word was used because the shape looks like a crescent moon, and that image stayed in its later scientific and medical uses.
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