Patella has been rejected. Partite patellas occur almost exclusively in men. Tripartite and even multipartite patellas occur. The upper three-quarters of the patella articulates with the femur and is subdivided into a medial and a lateral facet by a vertical ledge which varies in shape. Four main types of articular surface can be distinguished: In the patella an ossification centre develops at the age of 3–6 years. The patella originates from two centres of ossification which unite when fully formed. The primary functional role of the patella is knee extension. The patella increases the leverage that the quadriceps tendon can exert
Composition of the human body Not all elements which are found in the human body in trace quantities play a role in life. Some of these elements are thought to be simple bystander contaminants without function (examples: caesium, titanium), while many others are thought to be active toxics, depending on amount (cadmium, mercury, radioactives). The possible utility and toxicity of a few elements at levels normally found in the body (aluminium) is debated. Functions have been proposed for trace amounts of cadmium and lead, although these are almost certainly toxic in amounts very much larger than normally found in the body. There is evidence that