The shock absorptive capacity of the menisci of the knee joint may be of importance for the development of degenerative osteoarthrosis. To evaluate the shock absorptive capacity of them, dynamic contact pressure of the tibiofemoral joint was measured under various cyclic loading using micro-transistor pressure transducers.Following meniscectomy, the contact pressures acting on the tibial plateau, rising quickly with time, took significantly shorter time to reach the point of saturation and showed remarkably higher values than the pressures acting on the same area before meniscectomy. It means that without the menisci, strong and rapid direct contact between the femur condyle and the tibial plateau occurs, and that the menisci have shock absorptive and load transmitting function.