patella

noun

pa·​tel·​la pə-ˈte-lə How to pronounce patella (audio)
plural patellae pə-ˈte-(ˌ)lē How to pronounce patella (audio) -ˌlī How to pronounce patella (audio) or patellas
: a thick flat triangular movable bone that forms the anterior point of the knee and protects the front of the joint : kneecap
… the quadriceps are attached at the anterior and anterior lateral aspect of the patella and are extensors of the knee joint.John B. Rizzotto
… a few horses suffer from a slipping of the patella—the little bone on the front of the stifle that is similar to the human kneecap—locking the joint so that it cannot flex properly.Heather Smith Thomas
The human knee is specialized for walking upright too: to compensate for the thighbone's being at an angle, there's a lump, or groove, at the end of the femur that prevents the patella from sliding off the joint.Michael D. Lemonick and Andrea Dorfman
patellar adjective

Examples of patella in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Star guard Paige Bueckers also missed the entire 2022-23 season with a torn ACL, as did redshirt freshman Ice Brady after dislocating her patella. Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 10 Jan. 2024 The patella bone can be broken during a fall or an impact. Jonathan Cluett, Md, Verywell Health, 9 Nov. 2023 Injuries to the patella usually result in difficulties in moving the knee, walking, or running. Jonathan Cluett, Md, Verywell Health, 9 Nov. 2023 Traffic accidents are the cause of 78.3% of patella fractures. Jonathan Cluett, Md, Verywell Health, 9 Nov. 2023 By then, a torn patella tendon had sidetracked his hoops plans and, while rehabbing from the injury, Mack had thrown himself into weight lifting, first asking to join his father at the gym and later insisting on it. Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2022 And its padded patella buttress helps to offer knee stability. Jack Byram, Verywell Health, 15 Sep. 2023 The most serious injury appears to have been suffered by returner Jakeem Grant, who may have broken his patella on the opening kickoff, a league source told cleveland.com. cleveland, 27 Aug. 2023 Swanson, the team’s top scorer this year, tore her patella tendon in an exhibition match with Ireland in April. Anne M. Peterson, Chicago Tribune, 2 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'patella.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from diminutive of patina shallow dish

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of patella was in 1634

Dictionary Entries Near patella

Cite this Entry

“Patella.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patella. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

patella

noun
pa·​tel·​la pə-ˈtel-ə How to pronounce patella (audio)
plural patellae -ˈtel-ē How to pronounce patella (audio)
-ˌī
or patellas

Medical Definition

patella

noun
pa·​tel·​la pə-ˈtel-ə How to pronounce patella (audio)
plural patellae -ˈtel-(ˌ)ē How to pronounce patella (audio) -ˌī How to pronounce patella (audio) or patellas
: a thick flat triangular movable bone that forms the anterior point of the knee, protects the front of the joint, increases the leverage of the quadriceps, and is usually regarded as a sesamoid bone since it is developed in the tendon of the quadriceps and in structure is similar to other sesamoid bones

called also kneecap, kneepan

patellar adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on patella

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