A 28-year-old male footballer presents with acute right knee pain and swelling following a varus stress injury during a match. On examination, there is increased laxity on varus stress testing at 30° flexion. MRI coronal imaging shows the structure marked **D** to be intact and cord-like in appearance, separated from the lateral meniscus by the popliteus tendon. Which of the following best explains why isolated injuries to the structure marked **D** are less commonly associated with meniscal tears compared to injuries affecting the structure marked **C**?