Lower limb
Prepatellar and suprapatellar bursae
Bursae praepatellares et bursa suprapatellaris
- Origin
- Synovial bursae situated between skin, fascia, and anterior surface of the patella, plus the large suprapatellar pouch
- Insertion
- Prepatellar bursa covers the anterior patella; suprapatellar bursa communicates freely with the knee joint cavity deep to the quadriceps tendon
- Function
- Minimizes friction between the patellar skin and bony extensor mechanism during flexion; suprapatellar bursa serves as dynamic joint fluid reservoir
- Innervation
- Sensory branches of the femoral nerve
- Movement & chain
- Compressed during kneeling and stretched in deep knee flexion
- Palpation
- Fluctuant swelling readily palpable over the anterior patella or suprapatellar pouch
- Clinical
- Prepatellar bursitis (Housemaid's knee from repetitive kneeling); septic prepatellar bursitis (Staphylococcus aureus); suprapatellar effusion in inflammatory arthritis producing a 'ballottable patella'
- Segmental innervation
- L3, L4 spinal segments
- In clinical practice
- Patellar ballottement test for knee effusion; diagnostic bursal aspiration, antibiotic therapy for septic bursitis, and ergonomic kneeling pads
- Region in the model
- Lower limb