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Patellae: meaning, definitions and examples

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patellae

 

[ pəˈtɛl.i ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

anatomy

The patellae, commonly known as kneecaps, are small, flat bones located at the front of the knee joint. They serve as a crucial component of the knee, protecting it and aiding in the functioning of the knee joint by improving the leverage of the thigh muscles. The patellae articulate with the femur, contributing to the overall stability and mobility of the leg. Additionally, they play a role in preventing excessive wear on the knee joint by distributing forces across its surface. Injuries to the patellae can lead to pain and limited mobility.

Synonyms

kneecaps

Examples of usage

  • The patellae are crucial for knee stability.
  • She suffered a fracture of the patella.
  • The doctor examined the patellae during the assessment.
  • Strong muscles support the patellae efficiently.

Translations

Translations of the word "patellae" in other languages:

🇵🇹 patelas

🇮🇳 पैटेला

🇩🇪 Kniescheiben

🇮🇩 patela

🇺🇦 колінна чашечка

🇵🇱 rzepka kolanowa

🇯🇵 膝蓋骨

🇫🇷 patelles

🇪🇸 rótulas

🇹🇷 diz kapağı

🇰🇷 무릎뼈

🇸🇦 رضفة

🇨🇿 knee cap

🇸🇰 kolenná čapka

🇨🇳 髌骨

🇸🇮 kolenska kapica

🇮🇸 hnékálfur

🇰🇿 тізе табаны

🇬🇪 მუხლის ფიქალი

🇦🇿 diz qapağı

🇲🇽 rótulas

Word origin

The term 'patella' originates from the Latin word 'patella', which means 'small pan' or 'dish'. This nomenclature reflects the bone's shape and flatness, resembling a small dish or lid. The word evolved in the medical lexicon to denote the bone at the front of the knee, which acts as a protective shield for the knee joint. The use of the plural form 'patellae' follows the typical Latin convention for pluralization of neuter nouns, where -a changes to -ae. Historically, the understanding of the patella's mechanical function has evolved significantly since ancient times, when its role was primarily noted but not fully understood. Modern anatomical studies have provided insight into biomechanics and the importance of the patellae in human movement and stability.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #37,581, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.