Bones of the Lower Extremity. 



135 



Basis patellae 



Basis patellae 



Facies articularis 



Apex patellae 



178 and 179. Right patella, patella. 



From in front. From behind. 



The patella (knee-cap) is a flat, rounded bone, which is intercalated as a large sesamoid 

 bone in the terminal tendon of the m. quadriceps femoris, and is situated in front of the lower 

 extremity of the femur. The upper end is the broader, basis patellae, the lower end is some- 

 what pointed, apex patellae, the margins are but little sharpened. The anterior surface is 

 rough. The posterior surface is for the most part covered with cartilage, fades articularis, 

 and divided by a longitudinal projection into a somewhat larger lateral and a somewhat smaller 

 medial part; when the knee is extended it lies on the facies patellaris femoris and in movements 

 of flexion at the knee joint glides downward and backward between the two joint-condyles of 

 the femur in front of the fossa intercondyloidea. 



Crista lateralis * 

 Fibula >~ 



Facies lateralis 



Behind. 



Facies posterior 



Crista medialis 



/Facies medialis 



Facies posterior 



Crista anterior 

 Cristae interosseae 1 - 



Facies lateralis --' 



Margo medialis 



-<-- Tibia 



Facies medialis 



Crista anterior 



In front. 



18O a . Transverse section through the middle of 

 the bones of the right leg. 



