patella

noun — 3 senses

patella

noun

US /pəˈtɛlə/

Etymology From Latin patella (“a small pan or dish, a plate; the kneepan, patella”), diminutive of patina (“a broad shallow dish, pan”). Doublet of paella.

1

Anatomy, Medicine, Sciences The sesamoid bone of the knee; the kneecap.

  • Subluxed patellas, more commonly referred to as slipped stifles, like all inherited factors will continue to cripple a breed as long as breeders continue to mate affected animals.2004, Ann Seranne, The Joy of Breeding Your Own Show Dog, page 188:
  • 2005, Roger E. Stevenson, 20: Limbs, Roger E. Stevenson, Judith G. Hall, Human Malformations and Related Anomalies, page 920, Since patella diameter is a feature of continuous variation, the majority of small patellas represent simply the lower extreme of normal anatomic variation.
2 more examples
  • Both patellae are well preserved for Dolni Věstonice 3 and 13-15, and the left patella remains for Dolni Věstonice 16 (Figures 18.22 to 18.26).2006, Erik Trinkaus, “18: The Lower Limb Remains”, in Erik Trinkaus, Jiří Svoboda, editors, Early Modern Human Evolution in Central Europe, page 395:
  • The patellae may be up to 30° externally rotated at birth. In young children it is considered normal for the patellae to be externally rotated, but by 5 years of age the patellae should face forwards.2009, P. Tohomson, “14: Assessment of the paediatric patient”, in Ben Yates, editor, Merriman's Assessment of the Lower Limb, page 401:
2

A little dish or vase.

3

Biology, Mycology, Natural sciences An orbicular sessile apothecium, with a marginal rim distinct from the thallus.

Synonyms
kneecap, kneepan, rotula
Related terms
chondromalacia patellae, nail-patella syndrome, patella femoral pain syndrome, patellar, patellar reflex, patellate, patellectomy

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.