Function
It protects the knee joint. It also serves as a lever for leg muscles, increasing their ability to move the leg. When a person walks, bends, stands, jumps, runs, or carries heavy loads, the patella serves as a hard physical barrier against damage.
Disease/ Injury/ Fracture
Patella Alta is a genetically abnormal condition in which knee cap rests abnormally high in relation to the position of the thigh bone. Patella luxation is a condition where knee cap dislocates or moves from its normal position within the joint with ligament tear.
Interesting fact(s)
Babies do not have patella. They have cartilage that acts as a knee cap. It ossifies or hardens later between 3 to 5 years of age.
