PAL: Models > Skeletal System – Joints > Quiz > Question 14 Which structure is highlighted? ? patellar ligament ? tendon of quadriceps femoris ? tibial collateral ligament ? anterior cruciate ligament
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is: patellar ligament.
Explanation
The structure highlighted in Question 14 under the Skeletal System – Joints section of the PAL (Practice Anatomy Lab) quiz is the patellar ligament. This ligament is a strong, flat band that connects the patella (kneecap) to the tibial tuberosity of the tibia (shinbone). It plays a vital role in the knee joint, especially in the extension of the leg.
The patellar ligament is technically the continuation of the quadriceps femoris tendon, which attaches the quadriceps muscles to the patella. The tendon becomes the patellar ligament as it continues below the patella to insert into the tibial tuberosity. This anatomical continuity is essential because it allows the quadriceps muscles to straighten (extend) the knee when they contract. When the quadriceps contract, they pull on the quadriceps tendon, which pulls the patella, and in turn, the patellar ligament pulls on the tibia, producing extension at the knee joint.
Clinically, the patellar ligament is also important for diagnostic and reflex testing. The patellar reflex (knee-jerk reaction) tests the integrity of the L2–L4 spinal segments, specifically the femoral nerve. During the test, a tap to the patellar ligament should produce a reflex contraction of the quadriceps and extension of the leg.
It is important not to confuse the patellar ligament with nearby structures such as the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) (which stabilizes the knee internally), the tibial collateral ligament (MCL) (which reinforces the medial side of the knee), or the tendon of the quadriceps femoris (which lies above the patella). Each of these structures plays a distinct role in knee stability and function, but the patellar ligament is uniquely located below the patella and is directly responsible for attaching the kneecap to the tibia.
