Patella

Knee (Cut View)

See Also: Knee Joint Overview | Joints and Mechanical Equivalents | Knee (Skeletal View) | Knee (Ligament View) | Knee (Muscular View)

Patella is the technical name for the kneecap, the triangular-shaped bone at the front of the knee joint. The patella is held in place by muscles, the lower end of which surrounds the patella and is then attached to the upper part of the tibia (shin) by patellar tendons. The patella protects the knee joint.