n, pl  -lae  or  -las  :  a thick flat triangular movable bone that forms the anterior point of the knee, protects the front of the joint, increases the leverage of the quadriceps, and is usu. regarded as a sesamoid bone since it is developed in the tendon of the quadriceps and in structure is similar to other sesamoid bones - called also kneecap , kneepan  pa*tel*lar adj 
 
 
 
Similar sounding terms:  pad·dle  ped·al 
 
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