Suprapatellar Bursa

Last updated: Jul 18th, 2025

The suprapatellar bursa lies between the distal femur and the quadriceps tendon, permitting movement of the tendon. The knee, like other freely movable joints, has several closed, fluid-filled sacs called bursae associated with it. Each bursa has an inner lining of synovial membrane, which may be continuous with the synovial membrane of a nearby joint cavity. Bursae act as cushions and aid the movement of tendons that glide over such bony parts or over other tendons. The names of the bursae indicate their locations; for example, a suprapatellar bursa, a prepatellar bursa, and an infrapatellar bursa.