What is the largest sesamoid bone in the human body?

The largest sesamoid bone in the human body is the patella, commonly known as the kneecap. Sesamoid bones are small, round bones that are embedded within a tendon and help to handle the forces in areas where joints flex and extend. The patella serves to protect the knee joint and improve the efficiency of the quadriceps muscle during activities such as walking, running, and jumping.

While the carpals are a group of wrist bones, the radius is one of the long bones in the forearm, and the scapula is a flat bone that connects the humerus with the clavicle, none of these are classified as sesamoid bones. The unique structural and functional characteristics of the patella, including its size, position in relation to the knee, and role in biomechanics, affirm its classification as the largest sesamoid bone in the human body.