Fig. 1

Patellar ligament and infrapatellar fat pad vascular architecture. Computed tomography 3D reconstructions of a barium perfused en block preparation of the patella; the patellar ligaments; and the tibial tuberosity (A cranial view; B caudolateral view; C caudal view) and the infrapatellar fat pad (D cranial view) of case no. 3; perfused vessels are seen in white. Each ligament received a bipolar vascular supply with a high vessel density at the poles, from which numerous distinct longitudinal vessels coursed distally or proximally, until anastomosing in the middle third within each ligament. One distinct longitudinal vessel was seen entering each of the lateral and medial lobes of the infrapatellar fat pad at the distocranial aspect, branching into extensive vascular plexus within each lobe. The medial and lateral plexus was connected with several horizontal branches after the two lobes merged. E Photomicrograph of the IFP illustrating intravascular barium (dark pigment) at 2.5 × magnification. H&E staining