Question

The largest of the sesamoid bones is the patella, commonly known as: the _____.

Answer 1

The largest sesamoid bone is the patella, also known as the kneecap, which is crucial for preventing the tendon of the quadriceps femoris muscle from rubbing against the femur, and it enhances the leverage power of this muscle across the knee joint.

Step-by-step explanation:

The largest of the sesamoid bones is the patella, commonly known as: the kneecap. A sesamoid bone is a bone that is incorporated into the tendon of a muscle where that tendon crosses a joint. The sesamoid bone articulates with the underlying bones to prevent damage to the muscle tendon due to rubbing against the bones during movements of the joint. The patella is found in the tendon of the quadriceps femoris muscle, which is the large muscle of the anterior thigh that passes across the anterior knee to attach to the tibia. It articulates with the femur and prevents rubbing of the tendon against the distal femur. Furthermore, the patella increases the leverage power of the quadriceps femoris muscle across the knee joint. Notably, the patella does not articulate with the tibia.