Morphology of the quadriceps tendon and its patella insertion site on three-dimensional computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging: A cadaveric study

This study was conducted to clarify the morphological properties of the quadriceps tendon (QT) and its patella insertion site using three-dimensional computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

Twenty-one right knees from human cadavers were evaluated using three-dimensional computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The morphologies of the QT and its patella insertion site were evaluated, along with intra-tendon differences in length, width, and thickness.

The QT insertion site on the patella was dome-shaped without characteristic bony features. The mean surface area of the insertion site was 502.5 ± 68.5 mm² (range, 336.0-610.7). The QT was longest 2.0 mm lateral to the central width of the insertion and gradually became shorter toward both edges (mean length, 59.7 ± 8.3 mm). The QT was widest at the insertion site (mean width, 39.1 ± 5.3 mm) and gradually became narrower toward the proximal side. The QT was thickest 2.0 mm medial to the center (mean thickness, 11.4 ± 1.9 mm).

The morphological properties of the QT and its insertion site were consistent. The characteristics of the QT graft depend on the harvested region.