Infrapatellar fat pad

The infrapatellar fat pad (Hoffa's fat pad or Hoffa's pad) is a piece of soft fat tissue that sits below and behind the patella (knee cap). It acts as a shock absorber between the patella and the femur.

The infrapatellar fat pad attaches to the lower inner part of the patella and separates it from the femoral condyle at the bottom of the femur.

The pad sometimes gets pinched between the patella and the femur, which is known as Hoffa's syndrome and can be quite painful.