JHSM
Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine

Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine (JHSM) is an unbiased, peer-reviewed, and open access international medical journal. The Journal publishes interesting clinical and experimental research conducted in all fields of medicine, interesting case reports, and clinical images, invited reviews, editorials, letters, comments, and related knowledge.

eISSN: 2636-8579
Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International License.
EndNote Style

Submit Manuscript

Index
Original Article
Analysis of patellar tendon morphometric features using magnetic resonance imaging
Abstract
Aims: This study aimed to (1) perform a comprehensive morphometric evaluation of the patellar tendon using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a Turkish population, and (2) investigate the influence of demographic factors on tendon size. Methods: This retrospective study initially evaluated 135 knee MRI scans performed between January 2023 and May 2025. After excluding 17 patients (12 with prior knee surgery, 3 with significant degenerative changes, 2 with incomplete imaging), 118 patients were included in the final analysis. Participants were categorized by gender (61 females, 57 males), age group (18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, ?60 years), and body weight. Patellar tendon thickness and width were measured at the proximal, middle, and distal levels, and tendon length was recorded. All measurements were performed using a standardized protocol on a 1.5-Tesla MRI scanner. Results: All thickness parameters were significantly higher in males than in females (proximal: 4.74±0.87 mm vs. 3.91±0.65 mm, p

Keywords : Graft planning, knee anatomy, magnetic resonance imaging, morphometry, patellar tendon, tendon thickness

Download Article


1. Jibri Z, Jamieson, P, Rakhra, KS, Sampaio, ML, Dervin, G. Patellar maltracking: an update on the diagnosis and treatment strategies. Insights Imag. 2019;10:33. doi:10.1186/s13244-019-0755-1
2. Otláns C, Fowler JR, Karns MR, et al. The utility of MRI in evaluating ruptures of the patellar tendon. Skeletal Radiol. 2023;52(3):463-472. doi: 10.1177/23259671221144980
3. Padur AA, Kumar N, Lewis MG, Sekaran VC. Morphometric analysis of patella and patellar ligament: a cadaveric study to aid patellar tendon grafts. Surg Radiol Anat. 2021;43(12):2039-2046. doi:10.1007/s00276-021-02837-z
4. Camarda L, Grassedonio E, Albano D, Galia M, Midiri M, D’Arienzo M. MRI evaluation to predict tendon size for knee ligament reconstruction. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2017;7(3):478-484. doi:10.11138/mltj/2017. 7.3.478
5. Nutarelli A, Pozzi G, Tagliabue M, et al. Epidemiology of patellar tendinopathy in athletes and the general population: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2023;33(7):898-912. doi:10.1177/23259671231173659
6. Dan MJ, Koh JSB, Lin KYC, Tham WL, Tan SHS. Biomechanics of the knee extensor mechanism and its relationship to patella tendinopathy: a review. J Orthop Res. 2018;36(9):2400-2408. doi:10.1002/jor.24120
7. Ito N, Scattone Silva R, Sigur?sson HB, Cortes DH, Silbernagel KG. Challenging the assumption of uniformity in patellar tendon structure: regional patellar tendon morphology and mechanical properties in vivo. J Orthopaed Res. 2023;41(10):2232-2237. doi:10.1002/jor.25563
8. Campbell AL, Caldwell JE, Yalamanchili D, et al. Effect of patient height and sex on the patellar tendon and anterior cruciate ligament. Orthop J Sports Med. 2021;9(5):23259671211003244. 2021. doi:10.1177/ 23259671211003244
9. Lunardi M, Sakugawa RL, Furtado FE, Sampaio LT, Diefenthaeler F. Morphological characteristics of the patellar tendon in runners, cyclists, triathletes, and physically active individuals. J Ultrasound. 2024;27(3): 527-535. doi:10.1007/s40477-023-00865-6
10. Raja BS, Gupta K, Singh S, Maji S. Assessment of thickness of in vivo autograft tendons around the knee and its correlation with anthropometric data, thickness of patella and anterior cruciate ligament tibial foot print diameter. Anatom Cell Biol. 2021;54(1):18-24. doi:10. 5115/acb.20.176
11. Abián P, Martínez F, Jiménez F, et al. Morphology of the patellar tendon and quadriceps contractility: Symmetry and gender analysis. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(10):5309. doi:10.3390/ijerph18105309
12. Behan FP, Maden-Wilkinson TM, Pain MTG, et al. Sex differences in muscle morphology of the knee flexors and extensors. PLoS One. 2018; 13(1):e0190903. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0190903
13. Ito N, Scattone Silva R, Grävare Silbernagel K. Location of measurement matters: unveiling regional dynamics and sex differences in patellar tendon strain in vivo. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2024;34(8):e14712. doi:10. 1111/sms.14712
14. Chandrasekhar A, Abu Osman NA, Tham LK, Lim KS, Wan Abas WAB. Influence of age on patellar tendon reflex response. PLoS One. 2013; 8(11):e80799. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0080799
15. Malliaras P, Cook J, Purdam C, Rio E. Patellar tendinopathy: clinical diagnosis, load management, and advice for challenging case presentations. J Orthopaed Sport Phys Ther. 2015;45(11):887-898.;22(4): 328-333. doi:10.2519/jospt.2015.5987
16. Tomlinson DJ, Erskine RM, Morse CI, Pappachan JM, Sanderson-Gillard E, Onambélé-Pearson GL. The combined effects of obesity and ageing on skeletal muscle function and tendon properties in vivo in men. Endocrine. 2021;72(2):411-422. doi:10.1007/s12020-020-02601-0
17. Couppé C, Kongsgaard M, Aagaard P, et al. Differences in tendon properties in elite badminton players with or without patellar tendinopathy. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2013;23(2):e89-e95. doi:10.1111/sms.12023
18. Breda SJ, van der Vlist AC, de Vos RJ, Krestin GP, Oei EHG. The association between patellar tendon stiffness measured with shear-wave elastography and patellar tendinopathy-a case-control study. Eur Radiol. 2020;30(10):5942-5951. doi:10.1007/s00330-020-06952-0
19. Zhang ZJ, Ng GY, Lee WC, Fu SN. Changes in morphological and elastic properties of patellar tendon in athletes with unilateral patellar tendinopathy and their relationships with pain and functional disability. PLoS One. 2014;9(10):e108337. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0108337
20. Wipfler B, Donner S, Zechmann CM, et al. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using patellar tendon versus hamstring tendon: a prospective comparative study with 9-year follow-up. Arthroscopy. 2011; 27(5):653-665. doi:10.1016/j.arthro.2011.01.015
21. Oliveira M, Lobo Júnior P, Imoto AM, et al. Unilateral versus bilateral resistance exercise in postoperative rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction with bone-patellar tendon-bone graft: a randomized controlled trial. Orthop J Sports Med. 2022;10(4):23259671221088830. doi:10.1177/23259671221088830
Article available in :
Volume 9, Issue 3, 2026
Page : 671-678
https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1883061
Article Information
Received : 05 Şub 2026
Accepted : 16 Mar 2026
Published : 19 May 2026
Corresponding Author :

Çağatay Bölgen: Department of Interventional Radiology, Adana Medline Hospital, Adana, Turkiye

[email protected]
Citation : Bölgen Ç, Altıntaş Y. Analysis of patellar tendon morphometric features using magnetic resonance imaging. J Health Sci Med. 2026;9(3):671-678. doi:10.32322/jhsm.1883061

Read: 201
Download : 85
Cited: 0
_Footer