Prepatellar Bursa
(Redirected from Subcutaneous Prepatellar Bursa)
Description
Name
- Prepatellar Bursa
General
- One of the many bursae of the knee
- Tricompartmental structure situated in the subcutaneous tissue anterior to the patella
- Separated by two thin septa oriented in a coronal plane
- The prepatellar bursa does not communicate with the joint space
- The prepatellar bursa is a flat, round, synovial-lined structure
Compartments
- Superficial compartment[2]
- Name: prepatellar subcutaneous bursal space
- Localized between the subcutaneous tissue and an extension of the fascia lata (transverse superficial fascia)
- The structure classically described in the anatomic literature
- Intermediate compartment
- Name: prepatellar subfascial bursal space
- Between the transverse superficial fascia and an intermediate oblique fascia formed by fascial extension of the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis muscles
- Deep compartment
- Name: prepatellar subaponeurotic bursal space
- localized between the intermediate oblique fascia and the deep longitudinal fibers of the rectus femoris tendon
- Insert directly in the patella
Anatomic Considerations
- In cadaveric studies, a trilaminar prepatellar bursa was found in 78-93% of people, and a bilaminar bursa was found in 7-22% cases[3]
- This bursa is superficial, suggesting that it is undeveloped at birth.
- Within the first few months to years of life, the bursa arises from direct pressure and friction.
Functions
- Separate the Patella from the patellar tendon and skin.
- Reduce friction between the skin and the patella and allows maximal range of motion (ROM).
Clinical Significance
See Also
References
- ↑ Aguiar, Rodrigo O., et al. "The prepatellar bursa: cadaveric investigation of regional anatomy with MRI after sonographically guided bursography." American Journal of Roentgenology 188.4 (2007): W355-W358.
- ↑ Dye SE, Campagna-Pinto D, Dye CC, Shifflett S, Eiman T. Soft-tissue anatomy anterior to the human patella. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2003; 85:1012-1017
- ↑ Aguiar, Rodrigo O., et al. "The prepatellar bursa: cadaveric investigation of regional anatomy with MRI after sonographically guided bursography." American Journal of Roentgenology 188.4 (2007): W355-W358.