Absence of bony patella in the white‐eared opossum (Didelphis albiventris): Morphology and diagnostic imaging

Summary Patella, the kneecap, is the best known and largest of the sesamoid bones and is present in the quadriceps femoris tendon. Typical patella appears in all extant mammals, with the exception of some marsupials and bats. No description about the white‐eared opossum stifle was found in the avail...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Anatomia, histologia, embryologia Vol. 46; no. 6; pp. 611 - 614
Main Authors:	Inamassu, L. R., Mamprim, M. J., Dadalto, C. R., Cavaletti, F. C., Mello, M. C., Schimming, B. C.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-12-2017
Subjects:	Animals Computed tomography Didelphis - anatomy & histology Didelphis albiventris Femur Knee Marsupials Muscle, Skeletal - anatomy & histology Muscle, Skeletal - diagnostic imaging Patella Patella - anatomy & histology Patella - diagnostic imaging Quadriceps muscle Quadriceps Muscle - anatomy & histology Quadriceps Muscle - diagnostic imaging Radiography Stifle - anatomy & histology Stifle - diagnostic imaging Tendons - anatomy & histology Tendons - diagnostic imaging Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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Summary:	Summary Patella, the kneecap, is the best known and largest of the sesamoid bones and is present in the quadriceps femoris tendon. Typical patella appears in all extant mammals, with the exception of some marsupials and bats. No description about the white‐eared opossum stifle was found in the available literature up to now. Thus, the knee joints of 16 Didelphis albiventris were examined by gross anatomy, histology, radiography and computed tomography images to determine the presence or absence of ossified patella in this animal. The most remarkable observation in white‐eared opossum is the absence of a bony patella. The femoral trochlea is shallow, and the lateral gastrocnemius sesamoids are shown up in all opossums. The quadriceps femoris tendon is composed mainly of dense regular connective tissue with a classic fibrocartilage pad on the superficial surface of the tendon. The absence of a true patella seems to be typical for marsupials.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0340-2096 1439-0264
DOI:	10.1111/ahe.12316