Patellar & quadriceps tendon

Looks like

Thick tendons above and below the kneecap — the quadriceps tendon from the thigh, the patellar tendon down to the shinbone.

What it does

Pass the pull of the thigh muscles across the knee to straighten it.

Keeping it well

Jumping sports make the patellar tendon sore; graded loading helps. Being unable to straighten the knee after a fall means a rupture needing surgery soon.

Related conditions

• ACL & meniscus injury
• Baker's (popliteal) cyst
• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Growing pains
• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
• Lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis)
• Lymphoedema
• Osgood–Schlatter disease
• Pseudogout (calcium pyrophosphate disease)
• Reactive arthritis
• Restless legs syndrome
• Septic arthritis
• Tendinopathy (tennis & golfer's elbow, Achilles, patellar)
• Varicose veins