Skip to main content
patella

patella

6 6.7
A small flat bone at the front of the knee called the kneecap
  • noun
  • /pəˈtɛlə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : rótula
  • Two more DVRTs were placed in a similar fashion, 1 cm inferior from the center of the patella (Medial Inferior, Lateral Inferior).
  • patella tendon
  • patella bone

She has hips, dysplasia, rotating patellas, luxating patellas.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Chondromalacia of the patella is considered the primary precursor to arthrosis of the knee (14).

    Academic text (2001)
  • Pain results from improper tracking of the patella, often due to weakness of the medial thigh muscles.

    Academic text (2015)
  • First, the center of the patella was determined.

    Academic text (2001)
  • The patella is completely shattered.

  • In both studies, lead in blood as well as in tibia and patella bone was measured.

    Academic text (2014)
  • There's a contusion on the subject's right patella.

  • However, this approach to increasing the surgical workspace requires cutting the retinaculum surrounding the patella.

    Academic text (2018)
  • Shawn Kemp, Jr. is out 6-8 weeks with a patella tendon injury.

    Blog text (22)
  • Most commonly used for defects involving the femoral condyles, osteochondral allografts may also be used for patella, trochlea, or tibial plateau lesions.

    Academic text (2005)
  • The doctor explained that the patella protects the knee joint during movement.

Synonyms

kneecap
vspatella
33 2.3

A small flat bone at the front of the knee that protects it

is the scientific anatomical term for the same bone
kneepan
vspatella
  • UK
7.2

A small flat bone at the front of the knee that protects it

is the scientific anatomical term and lacks the covering emphasis

Compounds

Patella vulgata
  • Specialized
9.5

A small sea animal with a hard cone shell that clings to rocks and is eaten in some coastal areas

Surface Forms

patella singular
patellas plural
patellae plural

Etymology

Patella comes from a Latin word meaning 'small plate' or 'pan', and you can remember it by thinking of the English word plate. That's why the kneecap is called the patella: it is a small, flat bone like a little plate.