What is a patellar tendon?
The tendons of the knee. Muscles are connected to bones by tendons. The patellar tendon attaches the bottom of the kneecap (patella) to the top of the shinbone (tibia). When a structure connects one bone to another, it is actually a ligament, so the patellar tendon is sometimes called the patellar ligament.
Why is it called the patellar tendon?
Patellar tendon: A tendon that extends down from the quadriceps muscle in the thigh to incorporate the patella (the kneecap) and attach it to the tibia (the shinbone), providing extension at the knee joint. The patellar tendon is also called the patellar ligament because it connects the patella to the tibia.
What is a patellar in anatomy?
The patella (derived from latin means ‘small plate’) is a flat, inverted triangular bone, situated on the front of the knee-joint. It is the largest sesamoid bone, developed in the tendon of the Quadriceps femoris, and resembles these bones as it is… developed in a tendon.
What is function of patellar tendon?
The function of the patella is to increase the length of the lever arm of the patellar tendon and therefore allow quadriceps femoris to exert a higher moment around the axis of rotation of the knee for a given level of muscle contraction than in the absence of a patella.
What sort of bone is the patella?
It is classified as a sesamoid type bone due to its position within the quadriceps tendon, and is the largest sesamoid bone in the body. In this article we will look at the anatomy of the patella – its surface features, functions and clinical relevance.
How deep is the patellar tendon?
The patellar tendon is approximately 30 mm wide by 50 mm long, with a thickness of 5 to 7 mm.
What causes patellar tendonitis?
Causes of Patellar Tendonitis. The most common cause of patellar tendonitis is overuse, which is why it is often seen in athletes, who tend to use a lot of repetitive movements that involve running and jumping, which is why it is sometimes called jumper’s knee.
What is the difference between the patellar tendon and an ACL?
The patellar tendon is a tendon (tendons connect muscle to bone). They serve very different functions. The central third of the patellar tendon is frequently used to reconstruct a torn acl. The acl is an importan ligament (ligaments connect bone to bone), that restrains anterior or forward translation of the tibia.
How serious is a patellar tendon tear?
They are both serious injuries. A torn patellar tendon results in a knee that doesnt function. An ACL tear results in an unstable knee, that can give out on you. The patellar tendon always requires surgical repair.
What is the recovery time for patella surgery?
The short-term recovery time after a knee replacement surgery spans somewhere between 6 to 12 weeks. During the first two days after the surgery, the patient is made to stand with support and is made to do a few exercises.
