Question

A 54-year-old woman presents with a swollen knee. On examination, a large joint effusion is present. With which of the following spaces does the knee joint communicate?

A) Anserine bursa
B) Infrapatellar bursa
C) Prepatellar bursa
D) Suprapatellar bursa

Answer 1

D) Suprapatellar bursa The knee joint communicates with the suprapatellar bursa, which extends superiorly from the knee joint and allows for smooth movement of the quadriceps tendon.

Step-by-step explanation:

The knee joint is a complex joint that includes the articulations between the patella and the distal femur (femoropatellar joint), and the medial and lateral condyles of the femur and tibia (medial and lateral tibiofemoral joints). All of these articulations are enclosed within a single articular capsule. When a knee joint effusion is present, it often involves swelling within the joint capsule itself.Bursae are fluid-filled sacs that serve to prevent friction near a joint. Out of the options given, the suprapatellar bursa is indeed the bursa that communicates with the knee joint cavity. It extends superiorly from the knee joint between the quadriceps muscle and the femur.

This bursa allows for smooth movement of the quadriceps tendon over the distal end of the femur.The correct option that identifies a space that communicates with the swollen knee joint is D) Suprapatellar bursa.The knee joint communicates with the suprapatellar bursa. The suprapatellar bursa is located above the patella (kneecap) and extends into the joint cavity of the knee. It allows for smooth movement and reduces friction between the structures in the knee joint.