- The patella (knee cap) is located on the distal anterior femur.
- The patella articulates posteriorly with the femur, forming the patellofemoral joint.
NOTES:
- The articular cartilage on the posterior (underside) of the patella is the thickest articular cartilage in the human body.
- When degeneration of the articular cartilage of the patella occurs, it is called patellofemoral syndrome (aka as chondromalacia patella).
- The patella only articulates with the femur, never with the tibia or fibula.
- The patella functions to increase the leverage force of the quadriceps femoris musculature contraction by holding the quadriceps tendon farther from the mediolateral axis of motion at the knee joint.
![Anterior, proximal (superior), and posterior views of the patella on the right side of the body.](https://learnmuscles.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/21-Patella-3235-1024x564.jpg)
Anterior, proximal (superior), and posterior views of the patella on the right side of the body.