patellar

patellar

of or pertaining to the patella.

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patellar cartilage

a cartilaginous process borne on the medial side of the patella of horses and cattle.

patellar fossa

the depression in the anterior face of the vitreous humor in which the lens sits.

patellar ligament

the continuation of the central portion of the tendon of the quadriceps femoris muscle distal to the patella, extending from the patella to the tuberosity of the tibia; it is single in carnivores, pigs and sheep and triple in horses and cattle; called also patellar tendon.

patellar ligament desmotomy

section of the medial patellar ligament for relief of upward luxation of the patella in horses (and rarely, cattle).

patellar luxation, patellar dislocation

1. a common, congenital or acquired orthopedic abnormality in dogs, causing mild to severe, continuous or intermittent lameness. Medial luxation is more common in toy or miniature breeds, often as an inherited defect and frequently associated with structural abnormalities of the distal femur and proximal tibia. Lateral luxation is less frequent, and occurs more often in large breeds associated with genu valgum.

2. Upward luxation and fixation in cattle presents with temporary or permanent stiffness and extension of the affected hindlimb and the animal drags the tip of the toe. More common in Brahman cattle. The cause is not known. Correction is by medial patella desmotomy.

patellar reflex

involuntary contraction of the quadriceps muscle and jerky extension of the hindlimb when the patellar ligament is sharply tapped. It is often used as a test of nervous system function. Absence of the reflex, together with deficient muscle tone in the limb, suggests paralysis or paresis due to lower motor neuron lesion. Called also quadriceps reflex.

Testing the patellar reflex. By permission from Sharp NJH, Small Animal Spinal Disorders, Mosby, 2004

patellar tendon

see patellar ligament (above).