Corpus: Patellar ligament

The patellar ligament is a broad, coarse ligament that extends from the lower pole of the kneecap (patella) to the tibial tuberosity at the front of the tibia.

The patellar ligament is approximately 5 cm long. Its proximal end attaches at the apex and neighboring edges of the patella, as well as on the rough depression on its posterior surface. The distal end extends into the tibial tuberosity. The superficial fibers of the ligament pass over the front of the patella and represent an extension of the tendon fibers of the quadriceps femoris muscle.

The lateral and medial parts of the quadriceps tendon pass the patella and insert on both sides of the tibial tuberosity. Their fibers reinforce the joint capsule and the medial and lateral collateral ligaments of the knee joint. The back of the patellar ligament is separated from the synovium by a large infrapatellar fat pad, known as the Hoffa fat pad. At the head of the tibia, the ligament is lined by the infrapatellar bursa.

Although it has no direct connection to a muscle, the patellar ligament can also be described as a tendon. In this context, it is seen as an extension of the attachment tendon of the quadriceps femoris muscle, with the patella embedded as a sesamoid bone.