Patella bone

BruceBlaus / Wikimedia Commons / Structure The patellofemoral joint is a complex structure involving not only bones, but a network of muscles and connective tissues. All of the bony surfaces inside the patellofemoral joint are covered with articular cartilage, which is slippery and helps the bones glide smoothly against each other when the knee bends or straightens. These are the types of everyday activities the patellofemoral joint was designed and evolved to perform. It works well, but, like the rest of your body, it undergoes wear and tear from almost constant use over the years. In addition, taking part in sports can lead to overuse and damage to the patellofemoral joint. • • Misalignment of the joint, such as when the kneecap no longer "tracks" properly within the patellofemoral groove • Overuse from excessive running, particularly if the knee muscles are weak, which is why "runner's knee" is another name for this syndrome • Chronic wear and tear of the knee joint from everyday activity and sports • Poor foot mechanics • Having a shallow patellofemoral groove • Abnormal attachment between the patellar tendon and the shin bone (tibia) • Having a "high-riding" kneecap (more common in girls), a condition called patella alta • Having knock knees (knees that turn in toward each other when you stand) • High-impact injury, such as during sports • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Aspirin, naproxen, and ibuprofen reduce both pain and swelling. • Exercise: Regular...

Knee Rehabilitation Exercises handout Patellofemoral arthritis affects the underside of the patella (kneecap) and the channel-like groove in the femur (thighbone) that the patella rests in. It causes pain in the front of your knee and can make it difficult to kneel, squat, and climb and descend (go down) stairs. Anatomy The patella is a small bone located in front of the knee joint — where the thighbone (femur) and shinbone (tibia) meet. It protects your knee and connects the muscles in the front of your thigh to your tibia. The patella rests in a groove on top of the femur called thetrochlear groove.When you bend and straighten your knee, the patella moves back and forth inside this groove. A slippery substance called articular cartilage covers the ends of the femur, trochlear groove, and underside of the patella. Articular cartilage helps your bones glide smoothly against each other as you move your leg. Patellofemoral arthritis occurs when the articular cartilage along the trochlear groove and on the underside of the patella wears down and becomes inflamed. When cartilage wears away, it becomes frayed and, when the wear is severe, the underlying bone may become exposed. Moving the bones along this rough surface may be painful. (Left)This X-ray shows a normal knee from the side. The arrows point to the normal amount of space between the bones. (Middle)In this X-ray, the arrows point to narrowed joint space due to patellofemoral arthritis. (Right)Here, the arrows point to...

• • Diagnosis • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Conditions • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Injuries • • • • • • • • • • • • Arthritis • • • • • • • • • • • • • Treatment • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Exercises • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Braces • • • • • • • • • Anatomy • • • • • • • • There are three knee bones that make up the knee joint: • Femur: aka thigh bone runs from the hip to the knee • Tibia:aka shin bone runs from the knee to the ankle, and • Patella:aka kneecap is thesmall bone at the front of the knee. The two largest knee bones, the femur and the tibia, join together to form what is known as the tibiofemoral joint, and at the front of the knee the kneecap rests in a groove on the front of the femur, known as the patellofemoral joint. Another bone, the fibula, is found on the outside of the leg. It is not directly part of the knee joint, but many of the important structures of the knee attach to the fibula. The bones of the knee are all lined with The Knee Bones Here we will look at each the different knee bones and their associated structures and how they work. We will also go on to look at what can go wrong with them and how to treat any problems that may arise. The femur is the longest bone in the body found at the top of the leg, sitting between the pelvis/hip and the knee. It measures approximately one quarter of your height! At the hip, the femur has a round shaped head which articulates with the part of the pelv...

Patellofemoral arthritis is a form of knee arthritis. It affects the joint where the kneecap meets the thighbone. People with patellofemoral arthritis may experience pain and stiffness in the knee, difficulty walking, and other symptoms that impact their quality of life. Although there is no cure for patellofemoral arthritis, medications and Knee osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder and a leading cause of pain and disability in adults. Around This article looks at patellofemoral arthritis and its symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. Share on Pinterest Medical Illustration by Bailey Mariner Patellofemoral arthritis is joint The patella rests in a groove at the end of the femur. This groove is known as the trochlea. Patellofemoral arthritis occurs when the cartilage that covers the patella and trochlea starts to break down or becomes inflamed. This can happen for several reasons, including wear and tear, injury, or autoimmune disease. The patella protects the knee joint and helps keep it stable. When the cartilage breaks down, it can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness in the knee joint. It can also affect a person’s ability to walk. There are several types of arthritis. Some, such as osteoarthritis, occur as a result of cartilage wearing down inside the joint. This may be due to overuse, injury, or dysplasia. Knee dysplasia is when the patella does not fit properly into the trochlea. This Individuals with patellofemoral arthritis also Other risk factors for devel...

Overview Patellofemoral (puh-tel-o-FEM-uh-rul) pain syndrome is pain at the front of the knee, around the kneecap. The kneecap also is known as the patella. Patellofemoral pain syndrome is sometimes called runner's knee. It's more common in people who run and who play sports that involve running and jumping. Symptoms Patellofemoral pain syndrome usually causes a dull, aching pain in the front of the knee. The following can increase the pain: • Walking up or down stairs. • Kneeling or squatting. • Sitting with a bent knee for long periods of time. When to see your doctor If the knee pain doesn't improve within a few days or it gets harder to move the knee, call your health care provider. Causes Patellofemoral pain syndrome can have several causes. It's been linked with: • Overuse. Running or jumping sports put repeated stress on the knee joint, which can cause irritation under the kneecap. • Muscle imbalances or weaknesses. Patellofemoral pain can occur when the muscles around the hip and knee don't keep the kneecap in line. Moving the knee inward during a squat has been linked to patellofemoral pain. • Injury. Trauma to the kneecap, such as when the kneecap gets out of place or breaks, has been linked to patellofemoral pain syndrome. • Surgery. Knee surgery can increase the risk of patellofemoral pain. This is especially true of repair to the anterior cruciate ligament using one's own patellar tendon as a graft. Risk factors Factors that can increase your risk include: • A...

Contents • 1 Introduction • 2 Osteologic Features • 3 Structure • 4 Ossification • 5 Articulation • 6 Functions of the patella • 7 References Introduction [ | ] The patella (derived from latin means 'small plate') is a flat, inverted triangular bone, situated on the front of the knee-joint. It is the largest sesamoid bone, developed in the tendon of the Quadriceps femoris, and resembles these bones as it is... • developed in a tendon • its center of ossification has a knotty or tuberculated outline • it's composed mainly of dense cancellous tissue. Osteologic Features [ | ] It has an anterior and a posterior surface, three borders, and an apex. SURFACES • The subcutaneous anterior surface is convex in all directions, perforated by small apertures for the passage of nutrient vessels, and marked by numerous rough, longitudinal striae. This surface is covered, in the recent state, by an expansion from the tendon of the Quadriceps femoris, which is continuous below with the superficial fibers of the ligamentum patellae. It is separated from the integument by a bursa. • The posterior surface is covered with articular cartilage upto 4 to 5 mm thick. This helps in dissipation of the force. • It presents above a smooth, oval, articular area, divided into two facets by a vertical ridge; the ridge corresponds to the groove on the patellar surface of the femur, and the facets to the medial and lateral parts of the same surface; the lateral facet is the broader and deeper. The medial ...

Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you will be able to: Describe the classes of bones. • Classify bones according to their shapes • Describe the function of each category of bones The 206 bones that compose the adult skeleton are divided into five categories based on their shapes ( Figure 6.2.1– Classifications of Bones: Bones are classified according to their shape. Long Bones A long bone is one that is cylindrical in shape, being longer than it is wide. Keep in mind, however, that the term describes the shape of a bone, not its size. Long bones are found in the upper limbs (humerus, ulna, radius) and lower limbs (femur, tibia, fibula), as well as in the hands (metacarpals, phalanges) and feet (metatarsals, phalanges). Long bones function as rigid bars that move when muscles contract. Short Bones A short bone is one that is cube-like in shape, being approximately equal in length, width, and thickness. The only short bones in the human skeleton are in the carpals of the wrists and the tarsals of the ankles. Short bones provide stability and support as well as some limited motion. Flat Bones The term flat bone is somewhat of a misnomer because, although a flat bone is typically thin, it is also often curved. Examples include the cranial (skull) bones, the scapulae (shoulder blades), the sternum (breastbone), and the ribs. Flat bones serve as points of attachment for muscles and often protect internal organs. Irregular Bones An irregular bone is one that does no...

Patellar ligament (ventral view) The four-headed muscle that inserts onto the extends the flexes the The sesamoid bone that lies within the quadriceps tendon. The patellar tendon connects the apex of the patella to the tibial tuberosity, and improves the way the quadriceps muscle pulls on the In this article we will discuss the gross and functional anatomy of the patellar tendon. We will also explain the clinical relevance of the structure, and provide a summary of key points at the end of the article. + Show all Anatomy The patellar tendon runs inferiorly from the patella bone to the tibial tuberosity of the femur. The patella is a large sesamoid (a bone within a tendon) bone with a triangular transverse cross-section that lies within the quadriceps tendon. Another example of a sesamoid bone is the pisiform carpal bone that lies within the tendon of The patellar tendon originates from the patellar apex and attaches to the tibial tuberosity, which is a bony protrusion on the anterior aspect of the proximal tibia. The patellar tendon could also be referred to by a different name. A tendon is patellar ligament. Ligaments are in place to limit movement and the patellar ligament limits flexion of the knee based on its bony attachments. The patellar ligament is approximately 5 cm in length. However, its length is not constant and mostly increases from full extension to 30 degrees of knee flexion. The medial and lateral parts of quadriceps femoris descend on either side of the p...