MR signal from short T₂ tissues such as tendons and menisci characteristically decays very fast, resulting in little to no signal on images acquired with echo times (TE) that are used in a clinical setting¹. A novel variable echo time (vTE)² sequence allows to display image contrast of short T₂ tissues and is suitable for quantitative T₂* mapping. To examine the relationship between T₂* mapping and the degree of degeneration of human menisci, we analyzed T₂* values of menisci specimens using MRI on a ultra-high field scanner in combination with MR microscopy insert and compared these images to histological findings. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt of using T₂* mapping on human mensici on a 7T- microimaging system and the first to compare T₂* mapping technique of human meniscal fibrocartilage with histolochemical changes.Five meniscal segments were obtained from a pair of human lateral and medial menisci from the same osteoarthritic (OA) knee joint. All MRI acquisitions were performed on 7T MRI (Magnetom Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany) using a microimaging system³ providing a gradient strength of 750 mT/m. For T₂* mapping a 19 mm - ¹H NMR volume coil (Rapid Biomedical, Wuerzburg, Germany) was used. In preparation for our measurement we used a saturation recovery sequence to calculate T₁ values (T₁ ≈ 900 ms). The T₁ values are then used to design our measurement protocol according to the Ernst angle to gain maximum signal intensity in the least amount of time. For quantitative mono-exponential T₂* assessment a 3D variable echo time (vTE) sequence was used. The sequence is based on a gradient echo spoiled sequence, but was modified to use asymmetric readout and a variable echo time approach in phase and slice encoding direction¹. The T₂*maps were acquired using a single echo approach. This was done to ensure that the echo times are evenly distributed, and the short echo range (around 0.5-2.5 ms) is thoroughly sampled. Following echo times where used - TEs: 0.4, 0.7, 1.2, 1.7, 2.5, 4, 6, 8, 12 ms. The other imaging parameters were: FOV =12 x 14 mm², pixel size = 60 x 60 μm², slice thickness = 400 μm, Number of slices = 22, TR = 25 ms, flip angle = 9°, signal averages = 4, acquisition duration = 90 min. This approach allows to calculate T₂* maps mono-exponentially with a high coefficient of determination (R²). Following the MR measurement, the triangle cross-sections were fixed in 4% formalin, decalcified, dehydrated and embedded in paraffin. Subsequently, 2.5 µm deparaffined sections were stained with picrosirius red for visualization of collagen distribution and imaged under polarized light. Safranin O staining was used for visualization of age related changes in OA including local increased appearance of glycosaminoglycans in the fibrocartilaginous tissue. Additionally Hematoxylin –Eosin staining was performed to overall evaluate the cell density and evidence of mucoid degeneration. Qualitatively, the results show that thick fibrous bundles penetrate through the meniscus cross-section from the outer vascularized zone into the inner avascular zone. Figure 1 depicts one representative T₂* weighted image of the human meniscus using short echo time (2.5 ms) and very high (microscopic) resolution. The T₂* maps show values of approximately 6 ms for the circumferential fibre bundles (Fig. 2a). For the radial bundles, which are both fibrous and collagen based, the T₂* values are much higher with values of approximately 10-15 ms. Figure 2b depicts the corresponding picrosirius red stained image measured using a polarized light filter. In vitro regional differences were evaluated by comparing T₂* values of the red (vascularized) zone to the red-white and the white (avascular) zone of the menisci. The T₂* values of the white zone are lowest in all 5 specimens with mean T₂* values of 9.0 ± 1.0 ms whereas the mean T₂* values of the red and redwhite zone are higher with 10.7 ± 1.0 ms and 9.7 ± 0.9 ms. Overall, all five menisci specimens investigated showed a very similar morphological appearance comparing histological images, T₂* weighted images as well as T₂* maps. For the first time, T₂* mapping with high spatial resolution of human menisci specimens was successfully performed on a 7 T scanner with a microimaging system. The results show that T₂* mapping with microscopic resolution shows great promise for improving our understanding of degenerative changes in meniscus and may be used to estimate collagen organization and content.