patella

pa·tel·la  (p-tl)

n. pl. pa·tel·lae (-tl)

1.

a. A flat triangular bone located at the front of the knee joint. Also called kneecap.

b. A dish-shaped anatomical formation.

2. A pan or dish in ancient Rome.

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[Latin, diminutive of patina, plate, pan; see paten.]

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pa·tellar, pa·tellate (-tlt, -t) adj.

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patella [pat-tell-a, -lee]

Noun

pl -lae Anat kneecap [Latin]

patellar adj

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patella  (p-tl)

Plural patellae (p-tl)

The small, flat, movable bone at the front of the knee in most mammals. Also called kneecap. See more at skeleton.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	patella - a small flat triangular bone in front of the knee that protects the knee joint kneecap, kneepan os sesamoideum, sesamoid, sesamoid bone - any of several small round bones formed in a tendon where it passes over a joint articulatio genus, genu, human knee, knee, knee joint - hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
	2.	Patella - type genus of the family Patellidae: common European limpets genus Patella mollusk genus - a genus of mollusks family Patellidae, Patellidae - marine limpets common limpet, Patella vulgata - marine limpet