The Anatomy and Biomechanics of the Patellar Tendon

O Basso and D P Johnson

Although it has been suggested microscopic ruptures in the central region of the tendon are the cause of patellar tendonitis, and the patellar tendon is increasingly used to provide the autogenous graft for the reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament, little is known of the detailed anatomy or biomechanics of the tendon. Therefore a detailed description of the cadaveric anatomy of the patella tendon and an investigation into the biomechanics and functional behaviour of the tendon was undertaken.

Ten specimens of cadaveric human knee joints were dissected and the anatomical parameters measured. The macroscopic appearance of the anterior and posterior aspect of the patella tendon were assessed and photographed. The origin, insertion and orientation of the Patella Tendon fibres was described and mapped in detail. In a further five knee specimens the functional biomechanics were analysed by measuring the length changes of tendon during eccentric loading of the instrumented specimens on a test rig using Linear Variable Displacement Transducers (LVDT).

Additional experiments included analysing the tension generated within the tendon during functional loading of the knee specimens within the test rig using specially manufactured buckle strain transducers. The anatomical findings and the biomechanical behaviour of the tendon was related to the local surgical pathology and related to the technique of surgically harvesting the patellar tendon graft from the tendon.

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