Ligament: Patellar ligament
Right knee-joint. Anterior view. (Ligamentum patellae visible at bottom left, below patella.)
Latin	ligamentum patellae
Gray's	subject #93 340
From	patella
To	tuberosity of the tibia
MeSH	A02.513.514.475
Dorlands/Elsevier	l_09/12492768

The patellar ligament (anterior ligament) is the central portion of the common tendon of the Quadriceps femoris, which is continued from the patella to the tuberosity of the tibia.

Contents 1 Anatomy 2 Clinical significance 3 See also 4 Additional images 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Anatomy

It is a strong, flat, ligamentous band, about 8 cm. in length, which originates on the apex and adjoining margins of the patella and the rough depression on its posterior surface; below, it inserts on the tuberosity of the tibia; its superficial fibers are continuous over the front of the patella with those of the tendon of the Quadriceps femoris.

The medial and lateral portions of the tendon of the Quadriceps pass down on either side of the patella, to be inserted into the upper extremity of the tibia on either side of the tuberosity; these portions merge into the capsule, as stated above, forming the medial and lateral patellar retinacula.

The posterior surface of the ligamentum patellæ is separated from the synovial membrane of the joint by a large infrapatellar pad of fat, and from the tibia by a bursa.

It is also sometimes called the "patellar tendon".^[1]

[edit] Clinical significance

It can be injured in a patellar tendon rupture.

It can be used as a tissue source in the repair of other ligaments.^[2]

[edit] See also

• Patellar reflex

[edit] Additional images

Sagittal section of right knee-joint.

Capsule of right knee-joint (distended). Lateral aspect.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• The KNEEguru - educational site packed with knee content with sections on patellar problems
• SUNY Figs 15:01-04 - "Muscles of the anterior (extensor) compartment of the leg."
• Patellar+ligament at eMedicine Dictionary
• lljoints at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (antkneejointopenflexed)

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.

v • d • e Joints and ligaments of lower limbs (TA A03.6, GA 3.333) Coxal/hip femoral (iliofemoral, pubofemoral, ischiofemoral) · head of femur · transverse acetabular  · acetabular labrum · capsule · zona orbicularis Knee-joint Capsule · Anterior meniscofemoral ligament · Posterior meniscofemoral ligament extracapsular: patellar · popliteal (oblique, arcuate) · collateral (medial/tibial, fibular/lateral) intracapsular: cruciate (anterior, posterior) · menisci (medial, lateral) · transverse Infrapatellar fat pad Tibiofibular Superior tibiofibular anterior of the head of the fibula · posterior of the head of the fibula Inferior tibiofibular anterior of the lateral malleolus · posterior of the lateral malleolus other Interosseous membrane of leg Joints of foot Talocrural/ankle medial: medial of talocrural joint/deltoid (anterior tibiotalar, posterior tibiotalar, tibiocalcaneal, tibionavicular) lateral: lateral collateral of ankle joint (anterior talofibular, posterior talofibular, calcaneofibular) Subtalar/talocalcaneal anterior/posterior · lateral/medial · interosseous Transverse tarsal Talocalcaneonavicular dorsal talonavicular · plantar calcaneonavicular/spring · bifurcated (calcaneonavicular) Calcaneocuboid dorsal calcaneocuboid · long plantar · plantar calcaneocuboid · bifurcated (calcaneocuboid) Distal intertarsal Cuneonavicular plantar · dorsal Cuboideonavicular plantar · dorsal Intercuneiform plantar · dorsal · interosseous Other Tarsometatarsal/Lisfranc plantar · dorsal Intermetatarsal/metatarsal plantar · dorsal · interosseous · superficial transverse · deep transverse Metatarsophalangeal plantar · collateral Interphalangeal plantar · collateral Arches Longitudinal · Transverse

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