What are patellas?

The patella, commonly known as the kneecap, is a small bone located at the front of the knee joint. It is a flat, triangular bone that rides in a groove at the front of the femur (thigh bone) and connects to the quadriceps muscle (the muscle on the front of the thigh) and the patellar tendon (which connects the kneecap to the shin bone).

The primary function of the patella is to provide protection to the knee joint by acting as a shield for the underlying structures, such as the bones, cartilage, and ligaments. It also helps to improve the efficiency of the quadriceps muscle by increasing its mechanical advantage, enabling us to straighten our knee and extend our leg.

The patella is an essential component of the knee joint and plays a crucial role in various knee movements, such as walking, running, and jumping. It also aids in distributing the forces that act on the knee during movement.