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    Related Topics

    From Musculoskeletal System

    Occipital Bone
    Bone forming the back and base of the skull.
    Gomphoses
    Fibrous joints where a peg fits into a socket (e.g., teeth in jaw).
    Lacrimal Bones
    Bones forming part of the eye socket and housing the tear ducts.
    Facial Bones
    Bones forming the structure of the face.
    Cranial Bones
    Bones of the skull that protect the brain.
    Vomer Bone
    Bone forming the nasal septum.
    Sternocleidomastoid
    Muscle that rotates and flexes the neck.
    Coccyx
    Tailbone, the remnant of the tail in humans.
    Palatine Bones
    Bones forming part of the hard palate and nasal cavity.
    Achilles Tendon
    Tendon connecting the calf muscle to the heel bone.
    Interspinous Ligament
    Spinal ligament between adjacent vertebral spinous processes.
    Glenohumeral Ligaments
    Shoulder ligaments that stabilize the shoulder joint.
    Buccinator
    Muscle that helps with chewing and blowing air out.
    Gluteus Maximus
    Largest muscle in the buttocks responsible for hip extension.
    Maxillae
    Upper jaw bones that house the teeth and form part of the orbit.
    Quadriceps
    Rectus Femoris, Vastus Medialis, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Intermedius.
    Frontal Bone
    Bone forming the forehead and upper part of the orbits.
    Symphyses
    Cartilaginous joints where bones are connected by fibrocartilage.
    Ligamentum Flavum
    Spinal ligament connecting the laminae of adjacent vertebrae.
    Patella
    Knee cap, protecting the knee joint.
    Phalanges (14 bones)
    14 bones forming the toes.
    Tarsals (7 bones)
    7 ankle bones.
    Ilium
    Uppermost and largest part of the hip bone.
    Rectus Abdominis
    Abs muscle that flexes the trunk.
    Pubis
    Part of the pelvis that joins with the opposite side to form the pubic symphysis.

    Patellar Tendon

    Reviewed by our medical team

    Tendon connecting the patella to the tibia.

    1. Overview

    The patellar tendon (more accurately termed the patellar ligament) is a strong, flat band of connective tissue that connects the inferior pole of the patella (kneecap) to the tibial tuberosity. It plays a vital role in knee extension as part of the quadriceps mechanism. Though commonly called a tendon due to its association with the quadriceps muscle, it is technically a ligament because it connects bone (patella) to bone (tibia).

    2. Location

    The patellar tendon is located in the anterior aspect of the knee:

    • Proximally: Attached to the apex (inferior portion) of the patella.

    • Distally: Inserts onto the tibial tuberosity on the anterior surface of the proximal tibia.

    • Anteriorly: Lies superficial to the infrapatellar fat pad and anterior to the knee joint capsule.

    • Deep to: The skin and superficial fascia of the anterior knee.

    3. Structure

    The patellar tendon is a thick, fibrous band composed primarily of densely packed collagen fibers arranged in parallel:

    • Length: Typically ranges from 3 to 5 cm in adults.

    • Width: Approximately 2 to 3 cm; broader at the patellar end and narrower at the tibial insertion.

    • Histology: Composed of type I collagen, tenocytes, and a small amount of ground substance.

    • Surrounding structures: Covered by a thin paratenon and surrounded by fat pads (prepatellar and infrapatellar fat pads).

    4. Function

    The patellar tendon is an essential structure in the extension mechanism of the knee:

    • Transmits force: Transfers force from the quadriceps muscle (via the patella) to the tibia during knee extension.

    • Supports locomotion: Critical for walking, running, jumping, squatting, and standing from a seated position.

    • Acts as a pulley: Works with the patella to change the angle of force, increasing the mechanical efficiency of the quadriceps.

    5. Physiological role(s)

    Beyond movement, the patellar tendon supports several physiological and biomechanical roles:

    • Joint stabilization: Assists in maintaining proper alignment of the patella and tibia during dynamic motion.

    • Force distribution: Helps evenly distribute loads across the knee joint, reducing stress on cartilage and bone.

    • Reflex arc: Involved in the patellar reflex (knee-jerk reflex), an important neurological test of spinal cord integrity (L2–L4).

    • Protects underlying structures: Shields deeper components of the knee joint during anterior impacts.

    6. Clinical Significance

    The patellar tendon is frequently involved in musculoskeletal conditions, especially among athletes and active individuals:

    • Patellar tendinopathy (jumper’s knee):

      • Chronic overuse injury characterized by pain, inflammation, and degeneration of the tendon, commonly seen in jumping sports (e.g., basketball, volleyball).

    • Patellar tendon rupture:

      • A complete tear that results in loss of active knee extension; often occurs due to sudden, forceful contraction of the quadriceps.

      • Requires surgical repair and long-term rehabilitation.

    • Osgood-Schlatter disease:

      • Common in adolescents; involves traction stress on the tibial tuberosity at the insertion of the patellar tendon, causing pain and inflammation.

    • Patellar tendon graft:

      • Often used in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgeries as a reliable autograft source (bone-patellar tendon-bone graft).

    • Tendinitis vs. tendinosis:

      • “Tendinitis” refers to acute inflammation, while “tendinosis” indicates chronic degenerative changes—both affecting function and requiring different treatment approaches.

    Did you know? The clavicle is the only bone in the body that connects the arm to the body trunk.