Patellar tendon

 

Patellar tendon and the quadriceps muscle

The patellar tendon is really a tendon of the quadriceps muscle, where the patella bone snugs into the tendon itself, splitting it anatomically into quads tendon above and patellar tendon below.

 

 

A bone situated inside a tendon like this is called a 'sesamoid' bone.

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Patellar tendon problems

The patellar tendon is really important as it is the tether for the extensor mechanism, and it is therefore subject to a lot of stress.

Problems that can arise here include:

• Patellar malalignment - where the tendon attachment does not align well with the groove in which the patella is contained.
• Osgood-Schlatter's disorder - also called Juvenile traction osteochondritis - where repeated jumping activities in a young person put stress on the attachment of the tendon to the tibia at the tibial tuberosity.
• Patellar tendinitis - where overuse in an older person leads to painful mucoid degeneration inside the tendon itself.
• Patellar tendon rupture - where extreme sports can cause the patellar tendon to break.

 

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Patellar tendon as a graft material

In patients who have damage to their cruciate ligaments, part of the big patellar tendon may be 'harvested' by a surgeon and used as a graft material for a new cruciate ligament.

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Forum discussions

• please give advice an graft selection, im freaking out.

  Patients discuss options - including patellar tendon - for reconstructing their torn cruciate ligament.

• Please not the other knee as well!!!!

  A wide-ranging discussion about patellar tendinitis and other problems in and around the patellar tendon.

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