Eli5: Why do knees have kneecaps, but elbows dont have elbowcaps?
In: Biology
Said a little differently, your lower body benefits more from structures that assist in stability (for load-bearing activities like standing and walking) while your upper body benefits more from structures that help with mobility/range of motion. Kneecaps have two main jobs: to protect the ligaments and tendons around your knee joint and to assist in extension (straightening your leg). Since your upper body joints are not as consistently load-bearing, and elbow extension is easier to achieve than knee extension (smaller = easier to move freely), your body wouldn’t benefit from ‘elbow caps’ even if the term sounds wonderful and hilarious.
Hope that helps!
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