pa·tel·la /pəˈtɛlə/
 膝蓋骨


 pa·tel·la /pəˈtɛlə/ 名詞
 髕,膝蓋


 Pa·tel·la n.; pl. Patellæ
 1. A small dish, pan, or vase.
 2. Anat. The kneecap; the kneepan; the cap of the knee.
 3. Zool. A genus of marine gastropods, including many species of limpets.  The shell has the form of a flattened cone.  The common European limpet (Patella vulgata) is largely used for food.
 4. Bot. A kind of apothecium in lichens, which is orbicular, flat, and sessile, and has a special rim not a part of the thallus.

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 patella
      n 1: a small flat triangular bone in front of the knee that
           protects the knee joint [syn: kneecap, kneepan]
      2: type genus of the family Patellidae: common European limpets
         [syn: genus Patella]
      [also: patellae (pl)]