Overview
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The fabella (Latin for little bean) is a small found in some mammals embedded in the tendon of the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle behind the lateral condyle of the femur. It is a variant of normal anatomy and present in humans in 10% to 30% of individuals. Rarely, there are 2 or 3 of these bones (fabella bi- or tripartita). It is often mistaken for a loose body or osteophyte.
Taxonomy
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The Genus Fabella is further organized into finer groupings including:
- Species: ZipcodeZoo has pages for 2 species and subspecies in the Genus Fabella: F. calpix · F. pilsbryi (Oval Sportella)
References
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- Duncan W, Dahm D (2003). "Clinical anatomy of the fabella". Clin Anat 16 (5): 448–9. doi:
Sources
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