Medial Patellofemoral Ligament, Anterior View

Description

Running from the superomedial border of the patella to the medial femoral epicondylar region, the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) is rendered in an anterior knee view with its femoral attachment placed just proximal and posterior to the medial epicondyle, near the adductor tubercle. The patella sits anterior to the distal femur, while the tibial plateau lies inferior, framing the patellofemoral articulation. Medially, the MPFL blends with the medial retinaculum and superficial capsule, orienting obliquely from patella to femur. Orientation matters. Patellar instability most often follows lateral patellar dislocation, and the MPFL is the primary passive restraint to lateral translation in early knee flexion. This perspective clarifies why an anatomic femoral tunnel position is unforgiving during MPFL reconstruction: even small errors relative to the medial epicondyle and adductor tubercle can overconstrain the patella, increase medial facet contact pressures, and drive postoperative pain or loss of flexion. It also helps explain exam findings such as a positive apprehension test and the common association with trochlear dysplasia or patella alta. Educators will find this illustration well suited for musculoskeletal anatomy teaching, sports medicine modules on patellofemoral instability, and operative technique figures comparing native MPFL fiber direction with graft placement. Publishers can pair it with radiology or surgical content to annotate the MPFL’s relationship to the medial femoral condyle landmarks used for fluoroscopic confirmation of femoral fixation. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.