Developing kneecaps and babies developing kneecaps

Babies are not born with kneecaps, but they develop kneecaps later on. Their portion is softer and they have cartilaginous structure. So, they cannot walk steadily. When, they complete four years, they develop bones.

Kneecaps and babies

Image credits

Babies do not have kneecaps, but they are developed with cartilage in their knees. This cartilage is formed during the embryonic stage of development. When, they complete four years, these kneecaps are converted into bones. At birth, babies are not born with kneecaps, and these kneecaps are not developed until six months. But the babies can grip things strongly. Their fingers that are bent can support the weight. They can easily use the other body parts to walk around everywhere.

But some people do not develop strong kneecaps throughout their life. Their kneecaps are too small and this condition is known as hypoplastic patella. Some people do not have kneecaps throughout their life. Such people have weaker pelvic bones. Sometimes, the bones of the feet are not properly formed and hence their kneecaps do not grow properly. Such person does not develop proper check bones also.

How do kneecaps develop?

The babies have soft cartilage that is not formed into bones until four to six years of age. When do you grow kneecaps is around the age of four to six years. But sometimes, these kneecaps can get damaged after some years. So, they perform an operation named as patella femoral replacement or joint arthroplasty and it involves a surgery. The person can recover within a shorter period of time. But they cannot always provide long-term results and this operation should not be performed by people suffering from osteoarthritis.

This bone is also known as patella bone or a sesamoid bone. This bone grows within the tendons unlike the other bones. These bones are attached to the muscles of certain joints. The tendon is layered on the joint and they form sesamoids. So, the capacity of the tendon is increased and it produces a mechanical effect.

It is a bone that is placed before the knee joint. It is a place where the shinbone and thighbones meet. It connects the muscle of the tibia and the muscle that is located in front of the thigh. It contains a cartilage that helps the bones to easily glide along with the knee. Some of them have the kneecaps pointed. Some people experience inflammation of bursa that is located in the front of kneecap and the skin. When, they kneel down, the kneecap bursitis develops into egg-shaped bump. So, their kneecaps look pointed.

Kneecaps into free bones

This kneecap moves freely unlike the other bones. This bone is not attached to the other bones and hence it moves slowly. This knee does not slide within the groove and hence it can cause discomfort to the knee. So the person can freely move his kneecaps. But, sometimes, during the process of movement, it causes a great deal of discomfort.

Babies are usually born without kneecaps. Initially, they do not have any kneecaps, but they only have the cartilage in the joints. The baby is usually born with 300 cartilages and some of the bones are joint together and hence when they growup they have lesser bones and hence the adults have lesser bones than kids. The bones of the kids are not joint together still and hence they are more.

Sometimes, due to injury, this kneecap is chipped. It can be cut from the end of the thighbone that is located behind the kneecap. The person sometimes feels the chips on the surface. Sometimes, the knees are swollen and the person feels painful. Such persons cannot keep their knees straight. Sometimes, due to patellar disorder, or patellar tracking disorder, the legs become very tight or loose. Such problems include weak thigh bones, ligaments; tendons may be too tight or loose. So, this part can become injured. These kneecaps are pushed towards the outer part of the leg.

Some people do not develop proper kneecaps can walk even without kneecaps. So, the doctor does not fix any kneecaps. It is a bone that helps in protecting the knee joints. The persons can walk with the help of protective gears.

The knees are cartilaginous and these kneecaps eventually become harder kneecaps like the adults. But yet babies crawl because they contain a soft cartilage that becomes harder bones later on. These kneecaps cannot be identified if an X-ray is taken. Such x-rays develop between the age of two and six.

Image credits

Why don’t’ babies have kneecaps because babies usually comprise of cartilage that becomes a harder cap and hence, they help in vigorous movements. The adults usually move easily and can walk stiffly unlike the babies. When the kneecaps develop in the body, then the men can easily walk or perform free movements. Babies are not born with harder kneecaps. Usually, the babies that are born with bony kneecaps usually cause birth injuries and the mother cannot easily release the baby. During delivery, the woman experiences injury. Such babies have rigid bones and they are less flexible. They cannot maintain flexibility of the body. Such babies cannot easily walk or even crawl.

Usually, babies have more cartilages and the adults comprise of skeletons. The cartilages usually turn into bones from the age of four to six. The process is slower and they gradually develop bones. So, a person should have kneecaps but not very rigid. Such people can easily perform any type of movements. But the people who have no kneecaps usually cannot maintain rigidity. The cartilages fuse together and they are fused until the kneecap is complete. So, adults can perform any type of movements. When the children complete 10 to 12 years, then the kneecaps are converted into bones. So, they can develop good mortar skills.

Usually, children experience kneecap injury during the process of development. Some of the problems include:

Bipartite patella: the spots of cartilage are converted into bones and they do not fuse easily. Such children do not experience any pains.

Osgood Schlatter disease: These children usually experience the injury of tendon and hence the lump that is caused to them is painful.

Ligament injury: Some of the ligaments such as MCL or ACL adjoin the kneecaps and these bones become strained. So, additional strain is placed on the kneecap.

Torn meniscus is a type of knee joint that causes movement issues and pain. The babies can easily perform movements but they cannot maintain rigidity of the bones. So, the babies do not have kneecaps. The cartilage is hardened and it becomes bones and this process if known as ossification. So, the children begin to develop this process after completing four years.

The kneecaps or patella is usually circular and triangular in shape. It helps in extending and they provide leverage for quadriceps muscles. Patella is also known as sesmoid bones. It is actually converted into tendon or ligament.

A human being has many bones in the body and the cartilagebegins to develop when they are born. But, some people develop it gradually, whereas some people develop it rapidly. During the process of ossification the special cells are formed and the nutrients are pumped into the body. Then the softer cartilages are formed into hard bones. The kneecaps should fully transform into patella at the age of four years.

Cover Image credits: Photo by ERIKA CRISTINA from Pexels

Check out our recent post