Patella — Anatomy Notes, Diagram & Quiz

The Patella is located in the anterior knee. Sesamoid bone in quadriceps tendon, protects knee joint. The patella is a sesamoid bone embedded in the quadriceps tendon anterior to the knee joint.

Patella highlighted in a 3D model of the human body
Patella highlighted in the 3D body atlas. 3D atlas: BodyParts3D (DBCLS, CC BY-SA 2.1 Japan); Écorché/Z-Anatomy (CC BY-SA 4.0). Rendered in anotemy.

Key facts

Patella at a glance
LocationAnterior knee
Main functionSesamoid bone in quadriceps tendon, protects knee joint.
Layerskeleton
Key fact 1The patella is a sesamoid bone embedded in the quadriceps tendon anterior to the knee joint.
Key fact 2The patella articulates with the femur at the patellofemoral groove, improving leverage of the quadriceps.
Key fact 3Patellar fractures can result from direct trauma to the knee or from sudden forceful contraction of the quadriceps.

Where is the Patella located?

The Patella is located in the anterior knee.

The patella is a sesamoid bone embedded in the quadriceps tendon anterior to the knee joint.

What does the Patella do?

Sesamoid bone in quadriceps tendon, protects knee joint.

The patella articulates with the femur at the patellofemoral groove, improving leverage of the quadriceps.

What to know for exams

  • The patella is a sesamoid bone embedded in the quadriceps tendon anterior to the knee joint.
  • The patella articulates with the femur at the patellofemoral groove, improving leverage of the quadriceps.
  • Patellar fractures can result from direct trauma to the knee or from sudden forceful contraction of the quadriceps.

It belongs to the skeleton layer. Learn its location, relations, and the structures it works with.

Clinical relevance

Patellar fractures can result from direct trauma to the knee or from sudden forceful contraction of the quadriceps.

Link the patella to its blood supply, innervation and relations. That is how exam questions usually test it.

Memory aid: Patella

The patella is a sesamoid bone embedded in the quadriceps tendon anterior to the knee joint. The patella articulates with the femur at the patellofemoral groove, improving leverage of the quadriceps. Patellar fractures can result from direct trauma to the knee or from sudden forceful contraction of the quadriceps.

Chain it as location → function → clinical link when you revise.

Patella anatomy quiz

Five questions. Open each answer after you commit to a response.

  1. Where is the Patella located?

    Reveal answer

    Anterior knee

  2. What is the main function of the Patella?

    Reveal answer

    Sesamoid bone in quadriceps tendon, protects knee joint.

  3. Give one key fact about the Patella.

    Reveal answer

    The patella is a sesamoid bone embedded in the quadriceps tendon anterior to the knee joint.

  4. Give another key fact about the Patella.

    Reveal answer

    The patella articulates with the femur at the patellofemoral groove, improving leverage of the quadriceps.

  5. What clinical link is associated with the Patella?

    Reveal answer

    Patellar fractures can result from direct trauma to the knee or from sudden forceful contraction of the quadriceps.

Common questions

Where is the Patella located?

The Patella is located in the anterior knee. The patella is a sesamoid bone embedded in the quadriceps tendon anterior to the knee joint.

What does the Patella do?

Sesamoid bone in quadriceps tendon, protects knee joint. The patella articulates with the femur at the patellofemoral groove, improving leverage of the quadriceps.

What is a key fact about the Patella?

Patellar fractures can result from direct trauma to the knee or from sudden forceful contraction of the quadriceps.

What layer does the Patella belong to?

It belongs to the skeleton layer of the body.

What should I remember for exams?

The patella is a sesamoid bone embedded in the quadriceps tendon anterior to the knee joint. The patella articulates with the femur at the patellofemoral groove, improving leverage of the quadriceps. Patellar fractures can result from direct trauma to the knee or from sudden forceful contraction of the quadriceps.

Sources

  1. Standring, S. (ed.). Gray’s Anatomy, 42nd edition. Elsevier, 2020.
  2. TeachMeAnatomy — anatomy library
  3. Kenhub — anatomy library
  4. StatPearls / NCBI Bookshelf — Patella search

3D atlas and image credits

Anatomy models: BodyParts3D, © Database Center for Life Science (DBCLS), CC BY-SA 2.1 Japan. Écorché by Charleeh, derived from BodyParts3D and Z-Anatomy, CC BY-SA 4.0. Rendered in anotemy. Changes: highlighting, framing, labels and background removal. Images: CC BY-SA 4.0.

The 3D models are third-party assets under Creative Commons share-alike licences. They keep those licences; the page text is separate. If you reuse an image, keep the attribution and the share-alike licence.