patella
/pəˈtɛlə/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.48 in modern English
9
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
3
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The sesamoid bone of the knee; the kneecap.
noun
Alternative form of putelee (“type of boat”).
Example Sentences
- "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."
- "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)."
- "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."
Etymology
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /pəˈtɛlə/
Inflected Forms
Phrases
Frequently Paired Words
chondromalacia patellae
nail-patella syndrome
patella femoral pain syndrome
patellar
patellar reflex
patellate
patellectomy