Anteriorly, the synovial membrane is separated from the patellar ligament by an infrapatellar fat pad. On each side of the pad, the synovial membrane forms a fringed margin (an alar fold), which projects into the articular cavity. In addition, the synovial membrane covering the lower part of the infrapatellar fat pad is raised into a sharp midline fold directed posteriorly (the infrapatellar synovial fold), which attaches to the margin of the intercondylar fossa of the femur.