Some People Have An Extra Bone In Their Knee



Scientists have discovered that a pointless knee bone called the fabella may be causing osteoarthritis. The fabella — a tiny bone that sits inside the tendon behind the knee — is more than three times as prevalent as it was 100 years ago, and now 2 in 5 people have one. Less than half an inch in diameter, the bone has been dubbed “the appendix of the skeleton” because it’s apparently useless. Now, scientists believe that modern diets, which have made us taller and heavier, have placed more strain on our knees, leading us to grow the extra bone to relieve the pressure. There is one small catch: having a fifth bone in the knee could wear away important cartilage, damage that can cause osteoarthritis. Some experts now say that the fabella should be routinely removed if it’s found. The fabella — which is Latin for "little bean” — seems to have no reason to exist......pretty much like the appendix.