Tahzeeb-ul Hassan, Amer Qayyum, Tassaduq Hussain.
Fibrocartilage in Extensor Tendon and in Ligament of Human Knee Joint.
J Rawal Med Coll Jan ;19(1):71-3.

Background: To compare distal epiphyseal attachments of quadriceps tendon and patellar ligament by routine histology in view of their role as mechanical barrier and primary pathological site for spondyloarthropathies. Methods: Twenty autopsy specimens were collected. Strips were taken from central portion of attachment zones of quadriceps tendon and patellar ligament. It was confirmed in all cases that knee joints were devoid of gross pathological changes. After fixation, dehydration and processing sections were cut at 500µm interval along the long axis of the tendon and ligament. The widths of zones of uncalcified, calcified and total fibrocartilages were calculated. Results: There were four zones at the attachment sites. These included tendon, uncalcified fibrocartilage, calcified fibrocartilage and bone. There were marked differences in quantities of fibrocartilage between quadriceps tendon and patellar ligament insertion. Conclusion: The width of zone of fibrocartilage was greater in quadriceps tendon than patellar ligament. As quadriceps tendon is strong extensor with greater mobility and patellar ligament is also extensor of knee joint, so fibrocartilage is more in quadriceps tendon than patellar ligament.

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