Patella

The patella or kneecap is a thick, triangular bone which articulates with the femur and covers and protects the front of the knee joint. It develops from the tendon of the Quadriceps femoris muscle, which contracts to straighten the leg. The patella increases the leverage that the tendon can exert on the femur by increasing the angle at which it acts.

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• Bone terminology
• Terms for anatomical location
• Attenuated Patella Alta

Bone: Bone is a type of hard endoskeletal connective tissue found in many vertebrate animals. Bones support body structures, protect internal organs, and (in conjunction with muscles) facilitate movement; are also involved with cell formation, calcium metabolism, and mineral storage. The bones of an anima...

Femur: The femur or thigh bone is the longest, most voluminous and and strongest bone of the human body. The femur consists of a head and a neck proximally, a diaphysis (or shaft), and two condyles distally. It articulates with the acetabulum, the articular cup on the pelvis (hipbone), superiorly, and with...

Knee: In human anatomy, the knee is the leg joint connecting the femur and the tibia....