Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Nearby Words

patella

 - 5 dictionary results

pa⋅tel⋅la

  [puh-tel-uh]
Use patella in a Sentence
–noun, plural -tel⋅las, -tel⋅lae  [‑tel-ee] .
1. Anatomy. the flat, movable bone at the front of the knee; kneecap.
2. Biology. a panlike or cuplike formation.
3. Zoology. any limpet of the family Patellidae.
4. Archaeology. a small pan or shallow vessel.
Origin:
1665–75; < L, dim. of patina, patena pan, lit., something wide open. See paten, -elle

Related forms:
pa⋅tel⋅lar, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To patella
pa·tel·la   (pə-těl'ə)   
n.   pl. pa·tel·lae (-těl'ē)

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

    2. A dish-shaped anatomical formation.

  2. A pan or dish in ancient Rome.


[Latin, diminutive of patina, plate, pan; see paten.]
pa·tel'lar, pa·tel'late (-těl'ĭt, -āt') adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: pa·tel·la
Pronunciation: p&-'tel-&
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural pa·tel·lae /-'tel-(")E,-"I/ or pa·tel·las
: a thick flat triangular movable bone that forms the anterior point of the knee, protects the front of the joint, increases theleverage of the quadriceps, and is usually regarded as a sesamoid bone since it is developed in the tendon of the quadriceps and in structure is similar to other sesamoid bones called alsokneecap, kneepan —pa·tel·lar /-&r/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

patella pa·tel·la (pə-těl'ə)
n. pl. pa·tel·lae (-těl'ē)

  1. A flat triangular bone located in the combined tendon of the extensors of the leg and covering the front surface of the knee joint. Also called kneecap.

  2. A pan-shaped anatomical formation.

pa·tel'lar or pa·tel'late (-těl'ĭt, -āt') adj.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Science Dictionary
patella   (pə-těl'ə)  Pronunciation Key 
Plural patellae (pə-těl'ē)
The small, flat, movable bone at the front of the knee in most mammals. Also called kneecap. See more at skeleton.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see patella on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way