Patella
[puh-tel-uh] /pəˈtɛl ə/
noun, plural patellas, patellae
[puh-tel-ee] /pəˈtɛl i/ (Show IPA)
1.
Anatomy. the flat, movable bone at the front of the knee; kneecap.
2.
Biology. a panlike or cuplike formation.
3.
Zoology. any limpet of the family Patellidae.
4.
Archaeology. a small pan or shallow vessel.
/pəˈtɛlə/
noun (pl) -lae (-liː)
1.
(anatomy) a small flat triangular bone in front of and protecting the knee joint Nontechnical name kneecap
2.
(biology) a cuplike structure, such as the spore-producing body of certain ascomycetous fungi
3.
(archaeol) a small pan
n.
“knee cap,” 1690s, from Latin patella “pan, kneecap,” diminutive of patina “pan” (see pan (n.)). So called from its shape. Related: Patellar; patelliform.
patella pa·tel·la (pə-těl’ə)
n. pl. pa·tel·lae (-těl’ē)
pa·tel’lar or pa·tel’late (-těl’ĭt, -āt’) adj.
patella
(pə-těl’ə)
Plural patellae (pə-těl’ē)
The small, flat, movable bone at the front of the knee in most mammals. Also called kneecap. See more at skeleton.
Read Also:
- Patellar fossa of vitreous
patellar fossa of vitreous n. The saucer-shaped depression of the vitreous humor formed by the posterior convexity of the lens of the eye.
- Patellar ligament
patellar ligament n. A strong flattened fibrous band adjoining the margins of the patella to the tuberosity of the tibia.
- Patellar-reflex
noun 1. . patellar reflex n. A reflex contraction of the quadriceps muscle resulting in a sudden involuntary extension of the leg, produced by a sharp tap to the tendon below the patella. Also called knee jerk, knee-jerk reflex, knee reflex, quadriceps reflex.
- Patellate
[puh-tel-it, -eyt] /pəˈtɛl ɪt, -eɪt/ adjective 1. having a . 2. . /pəˈtɛlɪt; -ˌleɪt/ adjective 1. having the shape of a patella Also patelliform (pəˈtɛlɪˌfɔːm)
- Patellectomy
patellectomy pat·el·lec·to·my (pāt’l-ěk’tə-mē) n. Excision of the patella.