What Are the Different Types of Knee Tendon?
The knee is surrounded by several types of tendons, which help govern interaction between the thigh, kneecap, and calf. While multiple tendons make up the knee area, the most commonly known are the quadriceps tendon, the illiotibial band, the hamstring tendon, and the patellar tendon, which is also known as the patellar ligament. Each type of knee tendon serves a different purpose, but together they create the extensor mechanism that allows bipedal movement and controls knee extension and relaxation. The first type of knee tendon, the quadriceps tendon, connects the thigh to the knee itself. The muscles of the thigh are known as quadriceps, and this tendon stretches from those muscles down to the upper part of the patella, or kneecap. The quadriceps tendon is relatively short, thicker at the top, and tapers to a shorter base, where it attaches to the patella.