Meniscopatellar ligament

At a glance

English

Meniscopatellar ligament

Latin (TA2)

Ligamentum meniscopatellare

System

Ligament

Region

Lower limb

Side

Paired, left and right

About the meniscopatellar ligament

The meniscopatellar ligaments are thickenings of the front part of the knee joint capsule. There is one on each side: a medial band from the lower medial border of the patella to the anterior horn and outer rim of the medial meniscus, and a lateral band from the lower lateral border of the patella to the lateral meniscus. They lie in the deep layer of the patellar retinacula, beside the patellar ligament and the infrapatellar fat pad.

The medial band is the better known. It is one of a group of medial patellar restraints that also includes the medial patellofemoral ligament above it and the medial patellotibial ligament below. The medial patellofemoral ligament is the main brake on sideways shift of the patella, but the meniscopatellar band adds support, particularly as the knee bends further. On the lateral side the band is thinner and blends with the lateral retinaculum.

Because these bands link the patella to the menisci, they are thought to help draw the front horns of the menisci forwards as the knee straightens and the patella rides upwards, keeping the menisci from being trapped between femur and tibia. In this way they work alongside the transverse ligament of the knee, which joins the two anterior horns.

Clinically the medial band is damaged in many lateral dislocations of the patella, together with the medial patellofemoral ligament. Some reconstruction techniques for recurrent patellar instability rebuild it as well. Like the rest of the anterior capsule it is supplied by the genicular anastomosis and innervated by articular branches around the knee, so it may contribute to anterior knee pain after injury.

Attachments and function

Attaches from

Lower medial or lateral border of the patella.

Attaches to

Anterior horn and outer rim of the medial or lateral meniscus, blending with the joint capsule.

Function

Adds to the medial and lateral restraint of the patella and is thought to pull the anterior horns of the menisci forwards as the knee extends.

Nerve supply

Articular branches around the knee, including twigs of the femoral nerve and the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve.

Blood supply

The genicular anastomosis around the patella.