| The patella is the lens-shaped (sometimes
escribed as "triangular") bone that forms the kneecap.
It is located
in the tendon of the quadriceps femoris muscle of the thigh where
it lies in front of the "knee-joint" between the femur and the tibia
(as
sketched
below).
The functions of the patella include increasing the leverage of the tendon
of the quadriceps muscle; maintaining the position of the tendon when
the knee is flexed; and mechanically protecting the knee joint.
For diagram
showing its location relative to the fibula, tibia,
femur, and other bones of the leg, ankle, and foot, see the page about bones
of the foot and leg.
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