Fabella
Last revised by Daniel J Bell ◉ on 28 Jun 2023
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Knipe H, Bell D, Tan W, et al. Fabella. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 04 Oct 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-22122
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rID:
22122
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Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Henry Knipe had no recorded disclosures.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosuresLast revised:
28 Jun 2023, Daniel J Bell ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Daniel J Bell had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Daniel J Bell's current disclosuresRevisions:
24 times, by 11 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures
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Synonyms:
- Os fabella
- Fabellae
The fabella (plural fabellae 5) is an accessory ossicle that is almost always found in the lateral head of the gastrocnemius although rarely it can occur in the medial head of gastrocnemius 4. It occurs in ~20% (range 10-30%) of the population 1.
The fabella can also be fibrocartilaginous in nature and is occasionally found in the medial head of the gastrocnemius. The fabella articulates with its respective (medial or lateral) femoral condyle.
History and etymology
Fabella is Latin for "little bean" 5.
References
- 1. Kawashima T, Takeishi H, Yoshitomi S et-al. Anatomical study of the fabella, fabellar complex and its clinical implications. Surg Radiol Anat. 2007;29 (8): 611-6. doi:10.1007/s00276-007-0259-4 - Pubmed citation
- 2. Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. Edinburgh; Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, c2005. ISBN:0443071691. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 3. Moore KL, II AF, Agur AM. Clinically Oriented Anatomy, Hardcover Edition. Philadelphia : Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, c2010. (2009) ISBN:1608311813. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 4. CHARLES J. SUTRO, MAURICE M. POMERANZ, SYDNEY M. SIMON. FABELLA (SESAMOID IN THE LATERAL HEAD OF THE GASTROCNEMIUS). (1935) Archives of Surgery. 30 (5): 777. doi:10.1001/archsurg.1935.01180110048003
- 5. William Alexander Newman Dorland. Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary. (2007) ISBN: 9781416023647 - Google Books
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