patella

Etymology

From Latin patella (“a small pan or dish, a plate; the kneepan, patella”), diminutive of patina (“a broad shallow dish, pan”).

Noun

patella (plural patellas or patellae)

1. (anatomy) The sesamoid bone of the knee; the kneecap.
   • 2004, Ann Seranne, The Joy of Breeding Your Own Show Dog, page 188,

     Subluxed patellas, more commonly referred to as slipped stifles, like all inherited factors will continue to cripple a breed as long as breeders continue to mate affected animals.

   • 2005, Roger E. Stevenson, 20: Limbs, Roger E. Stevenson, Judith G. Hall, Human Malformations and Related Anomalies, page 920,

     Since patella diameter is a feature of continuous variation, the majority of small patellas represent simply the lower extreme of normal anatomic variation.

   • 2006, Erik Trinkaus, 18: The Lower Limb Remains, Erik Trinkaus, Jiří Svoboda (editors), Early Modern Human Evolution in Central Europe, page 395,

     Both patellae are well preserved for Dolni Věstonice 3 and 13-15, and the left patella remains for Dolni Věstonice 16 (Figures 18.22 to 18.26).

   • 2009, P. Tohomson, 14: Assessment of the paediatric patient, Ben Yates (editor), Merriman's Assessment of the Lower Limb, page 401,

     The patellae may be up to 30° externally rotated at birth. In young children it is considered normal for the patellae to be externally rotated, but by 5 years of age the patellae should face forwards.

Further reading

• patella in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• patella in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• patella at OneLook Dictionary Search

Noun

patella f (plural patelle)

1. (anatomy) patella, kneecap, rotula
2. (mollusk) limpet

Etymology

Diminutive of patina (“a broad shallow dish, pan”) or patera.

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /paˈtel.la/, [paˈtɛl.la]

Noun

patella f (genitive patellae); first declension

1. a small or shallow pan or dish
2. the kneecap, patella
3. a disease of the olive tree

References

• patella in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• patella in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• patella in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition, 1883–1887)
• patella in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Hachette
• patella in Harry Thurston Peck, editor (1898) Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, New York: Harper & Brothers
• patella in William Smith, editor (1848) A Dictionary of Greek Biography and Mythology, London: John Murray
• patella in William Smith et al., editor (1890) A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, London: William Wayte. G. E. Marindin