patella

Also known as knee cap, kneepan, kneecap, Knee-cap

The patella (: patellae or patellas), 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.

AI overview

The patella, commonly known as the kneecap, is a flat, triangular bone that sits in front of the knee joint where it connects with your thighbone and protects the knee. This bone is found in many four-legged animals like mice, cats, and dogs, but interestingly, whales and most reptiles don't have one.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Key facts

Bone.Name: Patella
Bone.Latin: patella
Bone.Image: Knee diagram.svg
Bone.Caption: Right knee
Bone.Origins: Present at the joint of femur and tibia fibula

via Wikipedia infobox

Research

20,553 papers

Patella Fractures: Approach to Treatment.The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons · 2021Hargett DI, Sanderson BR, Little MTMDOI: 10.5435/JAAOS-D-20-00591
Anterior Hook Plating of Patella Fractures: A Biomechanical Analysis and Clinical Series.ReviewJournal of orthopaedic trauma · 2023Alley MC, Kain M, Mitchell S et al.DOI: 10.1097/BOT.0000000000002565
Patella Apex Influences Patellar Ligament Forces and Ratio.Journal of biomechanical engineering · 2021Wheatley MGA, Clouthier AL, Thelen DG et al.DOI: 10.1115/1.4051213
"Anatomic patella design versus medialized dome design in the modern posterior stabilized (ATTUNE) total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis".Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2025Hajiaghajani S, Bahrami O, Hefzosseheh M et al.DOI: 10.1186/s13018-025-05858-1
Applied biomechanics of the patella.ReviewClinical orthopaedics and related research · 2001Grelsamer RP, Weinstein CHDOI: 10.1097/00003086-200108000-00003
[Nail-patella syndrome].Der Hautarzt; Zeitschrift fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und verwandte Gebiete · 1996Wildfeuer T, Albrecht GDOI: 10.1007/s001050050522
Management of the Patella During Total Knee Arthroplasty.JBJS reviews · 2021Held MB, Gazgalis A, Sarpong NO et al.DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.RVW.21.00054
The Double-Patella Sign: A Patellar Implant Loosening Case Report.JBJS case connector · 2023Ganz MP, Mannino A, Scuderi GRDOI: 10.2106/JBJS.CC.23.00292

via PubMed

Wikidata facts

Image: Patella post.jpg

Show 2 more facts

Commons category: Patella
described at URL: neal.fun/earth-reviews/kneecaps

Sources (5)

via Wikidata · CC0

~8 min read

Article

15 sections

Contents

Structure
Variation
Development
Function
Clinical significance
Dislocation
Treatment
Vertical alignment
Fracture
Exostosis
Other animals
Etymology
See also
References
External links

In humans, the patella is the largest sesamoid bone (i.e., embedded within a tendon or a muscle) in the body. Babies are born with a patella of soft cartilage which begins to ossify into bone at about four years of age.