Lower limb
Medial and lateral patellar retinacula (MPFL & LPFL)
Retinaculum patellae mediale et laterale
- Origin
- Expansions from vastus medialis/lateralis, femoral epicondyles, and IT band
- Insertion
- Medial and lateral patellar borders and proximal tibia; includes medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL)
- Function
- Stabilizes and guides patellar tracking within the trochlear groove; MPFL provides 50–60% of primary restraint against lateral patellar dislocation
- Innervation
- Femoral nerve (branches to vastus medialis and lateralis, L2–L4)
- Movement & chain
- Controls patellar glide, tilt, and rotation during knee flexion-extension
- Palpation
- Palpable along medial and lateral borders of patella
- Clinical
- Lateral patellar dislocation (traumatic MPFL tear); patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS / runner's knee from lateral patellar tilt/maltracking); positive Fairbank apprehension test.
- Segmental innervation
- L2–L4
- In clinical practice
- Fairbank apprehension test, McConnell patellar taping, VMO activation, and MPFL reconstruction surgery
- Region in the model
- Lower limb