Patellotibial Ligament

Description

• 
  Anatomic study of the medial patellotibial ligament (MPTL) of a right knee showing the MPTL patellar tendon angle, MPTL joint distance, and MPTL patellar tendon distance
• 
  MPTL and LPTL
• 
  Illustration depicting the insertions and orientations of the medial patellar ligaments (MPFL, MPTL, MPML, MQTFL) on the femur, patella, tibia, and medial meniscus in a right knee from an anterior view
• 
• 

Schematic drawing of the main medial knee patello-femoral stabilizers: adductor magnus (AM), lateral meniscus (LM), medial collateral ligament (MCL), MM: medial meniscus (MM), medial patella-femoral ligament (MPFL), medial patella-meniscal ligament (MPML), medial patella-tibial ligament (MPTL) and patellar tendon (PT).

Medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL), Medial patellomenisceal ligament (MPML), Medial patellotibial ligamente (MPTL), Medial retinaculum (MR), Vastus medialis obliquus (VMO), Rectus femoris (RF), Medial collateral ligament (MCL).

Name

• Patellotibial Ligament
• Medial Patellotibial Ligament (MPTL)
• Patellotibial band
• Patellotibial retinaculum
• Lateral Patellotibial lLigament (LPTL)

Medial Patellotibial Ligament

• Connects the inferomedial patella with the anteromedial tibia
• It is not well described in the literature
• Contributes to the medial patellar retinaculum

Lateral Patellotibial Ligament

• Not well described
• Connects the lateral patella with the lateral tibia

Function

• Plays a role in patellar stability
• Especially with patellar rotation and tilt

---

Clinical Significance

• Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
• Patellar Dislocation
• Patellar Instability

---

See Also

• Knee Anatomy Main
• Knee Pain Main
• Physical Exam Knee

---