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Patella.
| Type | Sesamoid bone |
|---|---|
| Parts | Apex (pointing inferiorly), medial and lateral borders, base (lies proximally) |
Where is the patella located?
Location. The patella sits between the femur and tibia , not only protecting the knee joint but connecting muscles in the front of the femur to the tibia. Under the patella and the at the end of the femur is articular cartilage, which makes it possible for the patella and femur bones to move alongside each other.
What is the apex of the patella?
The apex, or point, of the patella points downward towards the shin while the base of the bone sits upward towards the thigh. The base is also what attaches to the quadriceps tendon. The back of the patella forms a joint with the femur, otherwise known as the thighbone. This makes the femur become a joint facet, ...
What is the joint that connects the femur to the thigh?
This makes the femur become a joint facet, as it also connects with a medial and lateral condyle of the femur. The patella is also attached by the vastus lateralis and medialis, which are muscles in the thigh. From the apex of the patella comes the patellar ligament, which connects to the front of the tibia (shin bone).
What is the largest sesamoid bone in the body?
Rehabilitation. The patella, most commonly referred to as the kneecap, is the largest sesamoid bone in the body. A sesamoid bone is one that is embedded in a tendon and, in the patella’s case, it exists within the quadriceps tendon. This tendon helps hold the patella in place along with other muscles found in and near the quadriceps so it can do ...
What muscle is in the middle of the knee?
Muscles in the thigh, parts of the femur, and a tendon in the knee, referred to as medial patellar retinaculum and that crosses the knee joint in the middle of the patella, all work together to keep the patella stabilized.
What connects the tibia to the patella?
From the apex of the patella comes the patellar ligament, which connects to the front of the tibia (shin bone). The middle of the patella consists of openings for arteries to supply blood to the kneecap. Muscles in the thigh, parts of the femur, and a tendon in the knee, referred to as medial patellar retinaculum and that crosses the knee joint in the middle of the patella, all work together to keep the patella stabilized.
What is the name of the area where the patella grows larger than it should be for the space it lives in?
Hyperplastic properties, where the patella grows larger than it should be for the space it lives in (known as patella magna). Hunter’s cap patella, where the lateral side of the patella takes up the anterior surface of the bone.
What is the patella?
The patella is commonly referred to as the kneecap. It is a small, freestanding, bone that rests between the femur (thighbone) and tibia (shinbone).
What sports have patella injuries?
Injuries tend to be more pronounced in high impact sports. For example, patella-related injuries are common in sports like football, mixed martial arts, and wrestling. Last medically reviewed on January 23, 2018.
What is the role of the femur in the knee?
The kneecap plays a vital role in how the knee bends, in addition to most motions that require movement of the leg . If the patella or the tendon associated ...
What is the function of patella?
Function. The primary functional role of the patella is knee extension. The patella increases the leverage that the quadriceps tendon can exert on the femur by increasing the angle at which it acts. The patella is attached to the tendon of the quadriceps femoris muscle, which contracts to extend/straighten the knee.
What is the patella of the knee?
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 ...
Why does my kneecap hurt?
The kneecap is prone to injury because of its particularly exposed location, and fractures of the patella commonly occur as a consequence of direct trauma onto the knee. These fractures usually cause swelling and pain in the region, bleeding into the joint ( hemarthrosis ), and an inability to extend the knee.
What is the upper third of the patella?
The upper third of the front of the patella is coarse, flattened, and rough, and serves for the attachment of the tendon of the quadriceps and often has exostoses. The middle third has numerous vascular canaliculi. The lower third culminates in the apex which serves as the origin of the patellar ligament. The posterior surface is divided into two parts.
What is the apex of the patella?
The patella is a sesamoid bone roughly triangular in shape, with the apex of the patella facing downwards. The apex is the most inferior (lowest) part of the patella. It is pointed in shape, and gives attachment to the patellar ligament .
Which cartilage is thickest in the human body?
Owing to the great stress on the patellofemoral joint during resisted knee flexion, the articular cartilage of the patella is among the thickest in the human body. The lower part of the posterior surface has vascular canaliculi filled and is filled by fatty tissue, the infrapatellar fat pad .
How thick is the patella?
In the adult the articular surface is about 12 cm 2 (1.9 sq in) and covered by cartilage, which can reach a maximal thickness of 6 mm (0.24 in) in the centre at about 30 years of age. Owing to the great stress on the patellofemoral joint during resisted knee flexion, the articular cartilage of the patella is among the thickest in the human body.
What is the Patella
Patella, commonly known as kneecap, is the largest sesamoid bone of the body. It is located at the front of the knee like a cap, protecting the knee joint. It is characterized as a sesamoid type bone as it remains embedded within the quadriceps tendon.
Where is the Patella Located
The location of the patella can be felt by touching the knee. Whenever you touch the knee, the bone that you sense is the patella.
Anatomy of the Patellar Region
Patella is a thick, flat, triangular bone, having concave anterior and convex posterior surfaces. The posterior surface articulates with the femur and is marked by two shallow depressions or facets, medial and lateral.
What is the patella?
The patella is triangular in shape with a superior base and inferior apex. The proximal three-quarters of the posterior surface is smooth, composed of articular cartilage, which is the thickest in the body, as much as 5 mm in some adults. The distal pole of the posterior surface of the patella does not functionally form part of the joint and is denuded of cartilage 2. The posterior surface is divided into medial and lateral facets by a vertical ridge. The medial most portion of the medial facet lacks articular cartilage and is known as the odd facet 2,3.
Which part of the patella is not functionally part of the joint?
The distal pole of the posterior surface of the patella does not functionally form part of the joint and is denuded of cartilage 2. The posterior surface is divided into medial and lateral facets by a vertical ridge. The medial most portion of the medial facet lacks articular cartilage and is known as the odd facet 2,3.
What is the function of the medial patellofemoral ligament?
Its function is to prevent lateral patellar dislocation during knee extension.
What is the largest sesamoid bone in the human body?
The patella (plural: patellae ) is the largest sesamoid bone in the human body. It lies within the quadriceps tendon / patellar tendon and forms part of the knee joint and extensor mechanism of the knee 1.
Which muscle pulls the patella obliquely and laterally in relation to the femur?
The quadriceps muscles pull the patella obliquely and laterally in relation to the femur. There are factors that prevent such displacement: larger lateral condyle of the femur, tension in the medial retinacular fibers and direction of insertion of fibers of the vastus medialis muscle.
Which tendon attaches to the tibial tubercle?
The patella serves for attachment of the quadriceps tendon (superiorly) and the patellar tendon (which attaches to the tibial tubercle, inferiorly), although few quadriceps tendon fibers are continuous over the anterior surface. The quadriceps tendon and patellar tendon are really the same structure with the patella (as a sesamoid bone) embedded within it.
Which cartilage is covered by the medial and lateral facets of the patella?
Articulations. The medial and lateral facets of the patella are covered in hyaline cartilage and articulate with the medial and lateral condyles of the femur, respectively, to form the patellofemoral component of the knee joint.
Overview
Structure
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Function
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Clinical significance
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 (i.e., embedded within a tendon or a muscle) …
In animals
The patella is a sesamoid bone roughly triangular in shape, with the apex of the patella facing downwards. The apex is the most inferior (lowest) part of the patella. It is pointed in shape, and gives attachment to the patellar ligament.
The front and back surfaces are joined by a thin margin and towards centre by a thicker margin. The tendon of the quadriceps femoris muscle attaches to the base of the patella., with the vastus i…
Etymology
The primary functional role of the patella is knee extension. The patella increases the leverage that the quadriceps tendon can exert on the femur by increasing the angle at which it acts.
The patella is attached to the tendon of the quadriceps femoris muscle, which contracts to extend/straighten the knee. The patella is stabilized by the insertion of the horizontal fibres of vastus medialis and by the prominence of the lateral femoral condyle, which discourages lateral …
See also
Patellar dislocations occur with significant regularity, particularly in young female athletes. It involves the patella sliding out of its position on the knee, most often laterally, and may be associated with extremely intense pain and swelling. The patella can be tracked back into the groove with an extension of the knee, and therefore sometimes returns into the proper position on its own.