Fascia · Knee

Lateral patellar retinaculum

Retinaculum patellae laterale

A fibrous apron on the outer side of the kneecap, formed where the aponeurosis of vastus lateralis and an expansion from the iliotibial band run forwards past the patella to reach the front of the tibia. It blends with the joint capsule beneath it, so it reinforces the knee's covering rather than lying free over it. Its pull is directed outwards and slightly backwards, and the iliotibial contribution is what distinguishes it from its medial counterpart, which has no equivalent band feeding into it. Together with the medial retinaculum it carries part of the quadriceps' pull straight to the tibia, bypassing the kneecap itself.