Skeletal system
Patella
- System
- Skeletal system
- Regions
- Lower limb
- Side
- Left and right
- Part of
- Bones of free part of lower limb
DescriptionUnreviewed
The patella, also known as the kneecap, is a flat, rounded triangular bone which articulates with the femur (thigh bone) and covers and protects the anterior articular surface of the knee joint.
The patella is found in many tetrapods, such as mice, cats, birds and dogs, but not in whales, or most reptiles. In humans, the patella is the largest sesamoid bone in the body.
Babies are born with a patella of soft cartilage which begins to ossify into bone at about four years of age.
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Source: Wikipedia · Text licence: CC BY-SA 3.0 · This text comes from the source data and has not been reviewed by a person yet.
Names
- Latin
- Patella
- English
- Patella
- French
- Patella
- Spanish
- Patela
- Portuguese
- Patela