Deep infrapatellar bursa

Last revised by Calum Worsley on 6 Jan 2022

The deep infrapatellar bursa is one of many bursae surrounding the knee joint and shares the name with its superficial, subcutaneous counterpart.

Gross anatomy

It is located above the tibial tubercle immediately superior to the distal patellar tendon insertion and posterior to the lower third of the patellar tendon 1.

It is usually slightly wider than the patellar tendon and generally features two partial compartments, anteriorly and posteriorly, divided by a retropatellar fat pad extension 1. The deep infrapatellar bursa does not have any communication with the knee joint 1,2.

Related pathology

The following pathologies are associated with the deep infrapatellar bursa 1-5.

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