Which bone is the kneecap?

Which bone is the kneecap?

• A. Patella
• B. Tibia
• C. Ulna
• D. Sacrum

Answer: (A)

The kneecap is the patella, a small flat sesamoid bone tucked in the front of the knee. It sits within the quadriceps tendon and articulates with the femur to form the patellofemoral joint. Its main job is to protect the knee and improve how the quadriceps muscle pulls on the leg, by increasing the leverage and better directing the force when you straighten the knee. The other bones listed are not the kneecap: the shinbone beneath the knee is the tibia, the forearm bone is the ulna, and the sacrum is part of the spine at the base of the pelvis.

The kneecap is the patella, a small flat sesamoid bone tucked in the front of the knee. It sits within the quadriceps tendon and articulates with the femur to form the patellofemoral joint. Its main job is to protect the knee and improve how the quadriceps muscle pulls on the leg, by increasing the leverage and better directing the force when you straighten the knee. The other bones listed are not the kneecap: the shinbone beneath the knee is the tibia, the forearm bone is the ulna, and the sacrum is part of the spine at the base of the pelvis.