In an enterprise setting, patch panels are typically located in wiring closets which can provide easy, but protected, access to the networking hardware, allowing for quick re-routing of cabling, or cable replacement as necessary. A bulk (multi-strand) fiber cable enters the patch panel and then each fiber strand is separated into individual strands or pairs of strands. These individual strands will then connect to electronic devices. A fiber patch panel is a mounted enclosure—either rack-mounted or wall-mounted—used to terminate, manage, and interconnect multiple fiber optic cables. From those fixed endpoints you can neatly connect each cable == endpoint to whatever comes after - in your case the switch. And managing optical fiber cables at the center.
[PDF Version]