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Anatomy, Bony Pelvis and Lower Limb, Knee Patella

Chandler F. Cox, Margaret A. Sinkler  1 , Asa C. Black  2 , Marjorie V. Launico  3 , John B. Hubbard  4
In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan.
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Anatomy, Bony Pelvis and Lower Limb, Knee Patella

Chandler F. Cox et al.
Free Books & Documents

Excerpt

The patella is the largest sesamoid bone in the human body, located anterior to the knee joint within the tendon of the quadriceps femoris muscle (see Images. Anterior Patella and Posterior Patella).

The patella has the following functions:

  1. Serves as an attachment point for both the quadriceps tendon and the patellar ligament

  2. Increases the quadriceps muscle's effective extension capacity by increasing the patellar ligament's moment arm

  3. Protects the quadriceps tendon from frictional forces by minimizing tendon contact with the femur

  4. Acts as a bony shield for deeper structures in the knee joint

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: Chandler Cox declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Margaret Sinkler declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Asa Black declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Marjorie Launico declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: John Hubbard declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

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References

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