Patellar ligament

The patella is joined to the tibial tuberosity by a single patellar ligament in carnivores, pigs and small ruminants, and by three patellar ligaments (medial, intermediate or middle and lateral patellar ligaments) in cattle and horse.

The single patellar ligament of carnivores, pigs and small ruminants is identical to the intermiate (middle) patellar ligament in the the other species, and is formed by the distal portion of the tendon of insertion of the quadriceps femoris muscle (the patella being the largest sesamoid bone !).