Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026
Measurement of Healthy and Injured Triceps Surae Morphology
Published on: October 27, 2023
Comparative analysis of the morphologic structure of quadriceps and patellar tendon: a descriptive laboratory study
Panayiotis T Hadjicostas1, Panayotis N Soucacos, Irina Berger
1Department of Pathology, University of Heidelberg, Germany. phadjicostas@yahoo.com
Purpose:
The difference in ultimate strength between the quadriceps and patellar tendon could be reflected by different morphologic features.
Methods:
Standardized samples of quadriceps and patellar tendons were harvested from 20 cadavers and were investigated via light and electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and morphometry. The thickness of collagen fibrils, fibril-interstitium ratio, density of blood vessels, density of fibroblasts, and distribution of collagen fibrils were analyzed.
Results:
In comparison with the patellar tendon, the quadriceps tendon showed a significantly higher fibril-interstitium ratio (P = .0004) and a higher fibroblast density (P = .0011). No differences regarding the thickness of collagen fibrils, density of blood vessels, and distribution of fibrils were found.
Conclusions:
The quadriceps tendon graft can provide approximately 20% more collagen than the patellar tendon graft with the same thickness. This fact can play an important role in the better ultimate strength of the quadriceps tendon.
Clinical Relevance:
The detailed anatomic description of the quadriceps tendon and patellar tendon explains the difference in their ultimate strength.
