Patellar Collection

Knee osteotomy, artwork C016 / 6995
Knee osteotomy. Artwork of a bone tool being used during an osteotomy operation on the knee. An osteotomy involves the removal of bone

Patella twitch, artwork C016 / 6816
Patella twitch. Artwork of the muscles of the knee from the front, with red arrows showing the direction of movement of the knee cap (patella) when the quadriceps muscles of the thigh contracts

Patella twitch, artwork C016 / 6803
Patella twitch. Artwork of the muscles of the knee from the front, with red arrows showing the direction of movement of the knee cap (patella) when the quadriceps muscles of the thigh contracts

Kneecap fracture, X-ray
Kneecap fracture. Coloured X-ray of a broken kneecap (patella), as viewed from the side with the knee bent. The kneecap (far left, centre) is a disc of bone that covers the front of the knee joint

Patellar reflex hammer
Reflex hammer for testing neuromuscular reflexes. The most famous of these is the knee jerk, or patellar, reflex. In this, a tap below the knee cap (patella) causes the leg to kick

Kneecap fractures, X-ray
Kneecap fractures. Coloured X-ray of the kneecap (patella bone) of a 35 year old man, as viewed from above when the knee is bent, showing hairline fractures

Pinned kneecap fracture, X-ray
Pinned kneecap fracture. Coloured X-ray of a pin (grey, centre right) in the fractured kneecap (patella) of an adult man. The metal pin is used to hold the broken bone in the correct position

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Exploring the intricacies of the human knee, this page from The Pictorial Museum of Animated Nature showcases various depictions of the patella. From a simple twitch in artwork C016 / 6816 and C016 / 6803, to more serious conditions such as a fracture as seen in X-rays, the patella plays a crucial role in knee function. Diagnostic tools like a kneecap reflex hammer and surgical interventions such as a knee osteotomy or pinning a fractured patella are testament to its importance. Yet, despite its significance, the patella can still succumb to damage, as illustrated in the damaged knee artwork.