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.
Origin
1665-75; < Latin, diminutive of patina, patena pan, literally, something wide open. See paten, -elle
Related forms
patellar, adjective
postpatellar, adjective
subpatellar, adjective
Examples from the web for patella
  • The anterior surface of the patella is subcutaneous.
  • A luxating patella is a common occurrence in the knee where the leg is often bow shaped.
British Dictionary definitions for patella

patella

/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
Derived Forms
patellar, adjective
Word Origin
C17: from Latin, from patina shallow pan
Word Origin and History for patella
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 in Medicine

patella pa·tel·la (pə-těl'ə)
n. pl. pa·tel·lae (-těl'ē)

  1. A flat triangular bone located in the combined tendon of the extensors of the leg and covering the front surface of the knee joint. Also called kneecap.

  2. A pan-shaped anatomical formation.

pa·tel'lar or pa·tel'late (-těl'ĭt, -āt') adj.
patella in Science
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.