Ligaments of the Flexed Knee, Anterior View

Description

Seen from the anterior aspect with the knee flexed, the distal femur lies superior to the proximal tibia, with the femorotibial joint surfaces partly exposed by the bend. The patella sits anterior to the femoral trochlea, and the patellar ligament runs inferiorly from the apex of the patella to the tibial tuberosity, centered in the midline. Laterally, the iliotibial tract tracks down the anterolateral thigh toward Gerdy’s tubercle on the tibia, while the fibular (lateral) collateral ligament courses from the lateral femoral epicondyle to the head of the fibula, positioned more posterior and lateral than the patellar ligament. Articular cartilage caps the femoral condyles and tibial plateau, defining the contact areas of the femorotibial and patellofemoral compartments. Flexion makes the anterior stabilizers readable. The patellar ligament and extensor mechanism are placed under load in activities that drive anterior knee pain, and this view helps explain why patellofemoral maltracking can worsen with a flexed knee when contact shifts proximally on the trochlea. Lateral structures matter too: the iliotibial tract and fibular collateral ligament frame the anterolateral corner, a region scrutinized after pivot-shift injuries and in surgical planning for lateral extra-articular tenodesis or posterolateral corner reconstruction. A practical landmark. Use this illustration in gross anatomy and kinesiology teaching to contrast patellofemoral versus femorotibial mechanics, or in orthopaedic and sports medicine content covering ACL-associated rotational instability, IT band friction syndrome, and anterior knee pain syndromes. It also fits textbook figures and patient education materials that need clear orientation of the patellar ligament, lateral collateral ligament, and iliotibial tract in a flexed-knee position. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.