PATELLA

(Lat.), n. f. Paat(past)-e2l'la3. Dim. of patina, a broad, shallow dish. Gr., faiyovnt. Fr., rotule. Ger., Patelle, Napf, Knieschiebe. Lit., a small dish or cup, or cup-like formation. A flat, somewhat spongy sesamoid bone, triangular with rounded angles, having its apex downward, situated in front of the knee joint. To the upper border is attached the tendon of the quadriceps extensor cruris and to the lower the lig amentum patellae. Its posterior surface articulates with the femur. [L, 31, 142, 332.] P. brachial is. See OLECRANON. P. docimastic a. See CUPEL. P. flxa. See OLECRANON. [s. 224]