Medial patellofemoral ligament
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Feger J, Knipe H, Weerakkody Y, et al. Medial patellofemoral ligament. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 22 Jan 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-75391
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rID:
75391
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Joachim Feger had no recorded disclosures.
View Joachim Feger's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Henry Knipe had the following disclosures:
- Radiopaedia Events Pty Ltd, Speaker fees (past)
- Integral Diagnostics, Shareholder (ongoing)
- Micro-X Ltd, Shareholder (ongoing)
These were assessed during peer review and were determined to not be relevant to the changes that were made.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosures
Revisions:
15 times, by
4 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- MPFL
- Medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL)
The medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) belongs to the anterior medial supporting structures of the knee 1-3 and it is the main structure, preventing the patella from lateral displacement at 50-60% restraining force 1,7-9. It is one of the medial patellar stabilizers together with the medial retinaculum and the vastus medialis oblique muscle 5.
Gross anatomy
The MPFL is located superior and anterior to the medial collateral ligament and is part of the medial patellar retinaculum and the intermediate medial capsular layer 1-4. It forms the medial patellofemoral complex together with the medial quadriceps tendon femoral ligament 5.
Attachments
- the MPFL has two origins 11
- femoral tubercle component between the medial femoral epicondyle, the adductor tubercle and the gastrocnemius tubercle, just superior to the femoral origin of the superficial medial collateral ligament 1,2,4
- oblique decussation component arising from the anterior edge of the proximal 3 cm of the superficial medial collateral ligament 11
- distal insertion is at the superomedial aspect of the patella 1,2
Related pathology
-
lateral patellar dislocation
- medial patellofemoral ligament injury occurs in up to 87-100% 1,7
- rupture/tear occurs usually at the patellar insertion or femoral origin 1
Quiz questions
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References
- 1. Krebs C, Tranovich M, Andrews K, Ebraheim N. The Medial Patellofemoral Ligament: Review of the Literature. Journal of Orthopaedics. 2018;15(2):596-9. doi:10.1016/j.jor.2018.05.004 - Pubmed
- 2. Aframian A, Smith T, Tennent T, Cobb J, Hing C. Origin and Insertion of the Medial Patellofemoral Ligament: A Systematic Review of Anatomy. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2016;25(12):3755-72. doi:10.1007/s00167-016-4272-1 - Pubmed
- 3. Warren L & Marshall J. The Supporting Structures and Layers on the Medial Side of the Knee: An Anatomical Analysis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1979;61(1):56-62. - Pubmed
- 4. Guerrero P, Li X, Patel K, Brown M, Busconi B. Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Injury Patterns and Associated Pathology in Lateral Patella Dislocation: An MRI Study. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2009;1(1):17. doi:10.1186/1758-2555-1-17 - Pubmed
- 5. Loeb A & Tanaka M. The Medial Patellofemoral Complex. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2018;11(2):201-8. doi:10.1007/s12178-018-9475-2 - Pubmed
- 6. Ballehr LO. Transient Lateral Patellar Dislocation – Radsource MRI Web Clinic April 2013
- 7. Desio S, Burks R, Bachus K. Soft Tissue Restraints to Lateral Patellar Translation in the Human Knee. Am J Sports Med. 1998;26(1):59-65. doi:10.1177/03635465980260012701 - Pubmed
- 8. Sillanpää P & Mäenpää H. First-Time Patellar Dislocation: Surgery or Conservative Treatment? Sports Med Arthrosc Rev. 2012;20(3):128-35. doi:10.1097/JSA.0b013e318256bbe5 - Pubmed
- 9. Panni A, Vasso M, Cerciello S. Acute Patellar Dislocation. What to Do? Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2012;21(2):275-8. doi:10.1007/s00167-012-2347-1 - Pubmed
- 10. Baldwin J. The Anatomy of the Medial Patellofemoral Ligament. Am J Sports Med. 2009;37(12):2355-61. doi:10.1177/0363546509339909 - Pubmed
- 11. Collins M, Tiegs-Heiden C, Frick M, Brandt M. Medial Patellofemoral Ligament MRI Abnormalities in the Setting of MCL Injuries: Are They Clinically Relevant? Skeletal Radiol. 2021;51(7):1381-9. doi:10.1007/s00256-021-03969-4 - Pubmed
Incoming Links
Articles:
Cases:
- Osteochondral knee fracture and Medial patellofemoral ligament injury
- Transient lateral patellar dislocation
- Transient lateral patellar dislocation
- Lateral patellar dislocation with lipohaemarthrosis on ultrasound
- Patellar dislocation with chondral injury
- Medial patellofemoral ligament avulsion injury
- Multi-ligament injury of the knee
- Medial patello-femoral ligament tear
Multiple choice questions:
Related articles: Anatomy: Lower limb
- skeleton of the lower limb
- joints of the lower limb
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hip joint
- ligaments
- muscles
- additional structures
- hip joint capsule
- zona orbicularis
- iliotibial band
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hip bursae
- anterior
- iliopsoas bursa (iliopectineal bursa)
- lateral
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- greater trochanteric bursa (subgluteus maximus bursa)
- subgluteus medius bursa
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knee joint
- ligaments
- anterior cruciate ligament
- posterior cruciate ligament
- medial collateral ligament
- lateral collateral ligament
- meniscofemoral ligament (mnemonic)
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posterolateral ligamentous complex
- arcuate ligament
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- medial patellofemoral ligament
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- medial patellar retinaculum
- menisci
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ankle joint
- regional anatomy
- medial ankle
- lateral ankle
- anterior ankle
- ligaments
- medial collateral (deltoid) ligament
- lateral collateral ligament
- additional structures
- ankle bursae
- ossification centers of the ankle
- variants
- regional anatomy
- foot joints
- subtalar joint
- mid-tarsal (Chopart) joint
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tarsometatarsal (Lisfranc) joint
- ligaments
- intermetatarsal joint
- metatarsophalangeal joint
- interphalangeal joint
- ossification centers
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hip joint
- spaces of the lower limb
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muscles of the lower limb
- muscles of the pelvic group
- muscles of the thigh
- muscles of the leg
- anterior compartment of the leg
- posterior compartments of the leg
- lateral compartment of the leg
- muscles of the foot
- dorsal muscles
- plantar muscles
- 1st layer
- 2nd layer
- 3rd layer
- 4th layer
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accessory muscles of the ankle
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- accessory flexor digitorum longus muscle
- accessory soleus muscle
- peroneocalcaneus internus muscle
- tibiocalcaneus internus muscle
- extensor hallucis capsularis tendon
- anterior fibulocalcaneus muscle
- accessory extensor digiti secundus muscle
- tibioastragalus anticus of Gruber muscle
- vascular supply of the lower limb
- arterial supply of the lower limb
- venous drainage of the lower limb
- innervation of the lower limb
- lymphatic system of the lower limb
- lymphatic pathways
- anteromedial group
- anterolateral group
- posteromedial group
- posterolateral group
- lower limb lymph nodes
- lymphatic pathways
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