A large sesamoid bone found in the distal femur/proximal tibial region of the hindlimb of tetrapods. The patella is the attachment site for proximal hindlimb tendons.[PHENOSCAPE:ad]. [ https://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&atid=1205376&aid=3470151&group_id=76834 PHENOSCAPE:ad ]
Term information
- MA:0001374
- SCTID:182083008
- UMLS:C0030647 (ncithesaurus:Patella)
- NCIT:C33282
- FMA:24485
- galen:Patella
- EMAPA:35668
- Wikipedia:Patella
- GAID:203
- MESH:D010329
uberon_slim, pheno_slim, human_reference_atlas
The patella, also known as the knee cap or kneepan, is the largest sesamoid bone in the human body. The primary functional role of the patella is knee extension. The patella has convergently evolved in placental mammals and birds; marsupials have only rudimentary, non-ossified patellae. In more primitive tetrapods, including living amphibians and reptiles, the muscle tendons from the upper leg are attached directly to the tibia, and the patella is not present. See also: fabella.