Mediopatellar plica

Written by Dr Sheila Strover on March 14, 2025

A mediopatellar plica is a flattened band of synovium (joint lining) inside the knee, left over from the embryological development of the knee.

A mediopatellar plica is the same as a medial plica, and runs down the knee on the medial side along the side of the femur, where it can sometimes be traumatised and thickened and become impinged between the femur and the patella.

Illustration of the inside of the knee, showing the position of the plicae

Is a mediopatellar plica a normal structure?

A mediopatellar plica (medial plica) is a remnant of embryological development of the knee.

It may be present in anyone, but not everybody has one. In most people who do have a mediopatellar plica there are no symptoms.

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Plicae become pathological when its inherent qualities change due to an inflammatory process that alters the pliability of synovial tissue. A pathological synovial plica that has been through this inflammatory process can become inelastic, tight, thickened, fibrotic, and sometimes hyalinized.

Paul Yuh Feng Lee et al

Symptoms of a pathological medial plica

The main symptom of a pathological medial plica is pain on the inside of the knee, especially with stairs and sqatting.

Other symptoms may include catching, clicking or snapping.

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