[A radiological study of the patella and the facies patellaris of the femur].
Fifty-eight patellae and femora of cadaveric knees were studied. Radiological measurement of the osseous projection and cartilaginous projection, aided by contrast medium, revealed several morphological characteristics of the patella and the facies patellaris of the femur as follows. Depth index, facet angle, facet ratio of the patella and median ridge index which indicates position of the median ridge, showed almost the same value as reported by many authors previously. There were configurational rules in the axial view and the lateral view of the patella. Imaging of the configuration of the articular surface of the patella was therefore possible when osseous projection was measured. Regardless of the positioning to take radiograph, depth index and sulcus angle of the trochlea showed almost the same value, but the facet ratio varied considerably. There were good correlations between facet angle of the patella and sulcus angle of the trochlea both in osseous and cartilagenous projections. The depth index and facet ratio, on the other hand, were shown to have correlation in cartilagenous projection only.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010329:Patella / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography