patella
The patella, commonly known as the kneecap, is a small, flat, triangular bone located anterior to the knee joint. It is the largest sesamoid bone in the human body and is embedded in the tendinous tissue of the quadriceps femoris. Its primary role is to protect the knee joint and to increase the angle at which the quadriceps tendon acts on the tibia, improving the efficiency of knee extension.
It sits within the patellofemoral groove of the femur, articulates posteriorly with the femoral condyles via
Ossification occurs from a primary center around 3-6 years; fusion in adolescence; can be bipartite patella
Blood supply from genicular branches of the popliteal artery; innervation primarily by branches of the femoral
With the quadriceps, it functions as a fulcrum to increase the mechanical advantage of knee extension and
Patellar fractures from direct trauma; patellar dislocation laterally; patellofemoral pain syndrome associated with anterior knee pain;