Skeletal System

Bone Basics

What is unique about sesamoid bones?

Shaped similarly to sesame seeds, sesamoid bones develop inside tendons that pass over a long bone. They are most commonly found in the knees (the patella or kneecap is a sesamoid bone), hands, and feet. Sesamoid bones may form in 26 different locations in the body. However, the number of sesamoid bones varies from individual to individual.