Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

patella
See 
kneecap.
patellar
Pertaining to the patella (kneecap).
patellectomy
An operation to remove a shattered
patella.
patellofemoral joint
The joint formed by the
kneecap (patella) and the femur. See also 
knee.
patellofemoral syndrome
A common cause of
chronic knee pain, which characteristically results
in vague discomfort of the inner knee area that is
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patellofemoral syndrome
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aggravated by activity. Abbreviated PFS. PFS is
caused by an abnormality in the way the kneecap
slides over the lower end of the femur. Normally, the
quadricep muscle pulls the kneecap over the end of
the femur in a straight line. In PFS, the kneecap is
pulled toward the outer side of the femur. This off-
kilter path permits the underside of the kneecap to
grate along the femur, leading to chronic inflamma-
tion and pain. Treatment involves pain management,
and rehabilitation is designed to create a straighter
pathway for the patella to follow during quadriceps
contraction. Also known as chondromalacia patella.
patent 1
A legal device that gives exclusive con-
trol and possession of a device, an invention, or a
procedure to an individual or a corporation.
Health-related items that may be patented include
medical devices, surgical procedures, medications,
and even cell lines.
2
Open, unobstructed, or
affording free passage. For example, the bowel can
be patent, as opposed to obstructed.
patent ductus arteriosus
See 
ductus arteriosus.
patho
- A prefix meaning suffering or disease, as
in pathogen (a disease agent) and pathology (the
study of disease).