patella Definition
pa·tella (pə tel′ə)
noun pl. -·las or -·lae-ē
- a small, shallow pan used in ancient Rome
- a movable bone at the front of the human knee
- Biol. any panlike formation
Etymology: L, dim. of patina, a pan < Gr patanē < *petana < IE base *pet-, to spread out > fathom, L patere
patella Related Forms
pa·tel′·lar adjective
patella Usage Examples
Converse of object
- pull: Lateral - with the tape pulling the patella to the lateral side of the knee.
- keep: Perform rotational movements and downward pressure over this quadrant while keeping the patella stabilized with the non-dominant index finger and thumb.
- tilt: A band may be felt tightly pulling the patella over laterally and tilting the patella.
- push: Start with knee extended, gently pushing the patella laterally.
- hold: The tendons join the muscles of the upper and lower leg and hold the patella ( kneecap ) in place.
- cause: This causes the patella to twist or be pulled inwards.
Adjective modifier
- high: Anatomical abnormality of the patella ( small, high patella ) or an abnormal lateral femoral condyle ( shallow trochlea ).
- left: In addition there was a fracture of the inferior pole of the left patella.
- whole: In the presence of chondromalacia of the central ridge or generalized over the whole patella there is usually no definable cause treatable by arthroscopy.
- small: Anatomical abnormality of the patella ( small, high patella ) or an abnormal lateral femoral condyle ( shallow trochlea ).
Modifies a noun
- infera: The early diagnosis and treatment of developmental patella infera syndrome.
- alta: However, the lack of active extension combined with effusion, palpable deficiency in the patellar mechanism, and patella alta is diagnostic.
- tendonitis: Can a lack of quad strengh cause patella tendonitis to return?
- tendon: The patient's right ACL was reconstructed using part of his patella tendon with a successful outcome, ie, a stable knee.
- dislocation: I've had 2 major patella dislocations in the past 6 months.
- tilt: This demonstrates subluxation, patella tilt, lateral patella hyperpressure and any arthritis or thinning of the articular cartilage.
Noun used with modifier
chondromalacia: K knee pain - a common cause of pain in the knee in young adults is chondromalacia patellae.
Browse dictionary entries near patella
- ‹ -pated
- ‹ pate
- ‹ patd
- ‹ PATCO
- ‹ patchy
- ‹ patchwork
- ‹ patchouli
- ‹ Patches or Fixes or Updates
- ‹ Patchen, Kenneth
- ‹ patch up

