patella
/pəˈtɛlə
/noun (plural patellae /pəˈtɛliː/) Anatomy
The kneecap.The patella is the largest sesamoid bone in the body and provides increased mechanical advantage for knee extension....
- The joint is held in place by ligaments and covered at the front by the patella (kneecap).
- Tendons - these are tough bands that join the muscles of the upper and lower leg, and also hold the patella (knee cap) in place.
Derivatives
patellar
- Physical examination revealed pale skin and mucous membranes, as well as bilaterally decreased patellar and Achilles tendon reflexes.
- The capsule also is reinforced in front by the patellar and quadriceps tendons and posteriorly by the popliteus and gastrocnemius muscles.
- The combined tendon of quadriceps attaches to the superior and medial borders of the patella, and in part in front and beyond the patella to join the patellar ligament.
patellate
- Thus, calice size may have been a factor (as discussed below), along with having a larger area for distribution of weight, which may account for the abundance of trochoid and patellate shapes in H. halli living on and in soft mud.
Origin
Late 16th century: from Latin, diminutive of patina 'shallow dish', from Greek patanē (see paten).