214 Joints of the Lower Extremity 



Articulatio genii (continued). The cavwn articulare is in open communication 

 regularly with the burs a [mucosa] musculi poplitei (see also Fig. 396). This tube- 

 like pocket extends downward and backward on the lateral side in front of and below 

 the tendon of origin of the m. popliteus; it opens into the joint by a narrow slit above 

 the meniscus lateralis, between this and the tendon of the m. popliteus, but possesses 

 usually in addition a second communicating opening below the meniscus; it is sometimes 

 connected also with the articulatio tibiofibularis. 



In front of the patella are three bursae: the bursa praepalellaris subcntanca 

 in the subcutaneous connective tissue in front of the fascia lata (see also Fig. 375). 

 the bursa praepatellaris subfascialis behind the fascia lata (not figured), between 

 it and the tendinous expansion of the m. quadriceps femoris, and the bursa praepatelluris 

 subtendinea between the tendon of the m. quadriceps and the anterior surface of the 

 patella (not figured). In most cases only one of these three bursae praopatellares occur: 

 sometimes two or three exist over one another in which event th'y usually communicate 

 freely with one another; the size of these bursae differs much. 



The bursa infrapaiellaris profunda (see also Fig. 260) lies between the posterior 

 surface of the ligamentum patellae and the anterior surface of the tibia. It is separated 

 from the cavity of the knee joint by masses of fat and communicates with it only 

 very rarely. 



The joint-cavity is connected, in addition, in most cases, with the bursa supra- 

 patellaris (see p. 211), very often with a bursa m. semimembranosi (see p. 348) or 

 with the bursa m. gastrocnemii medialis (see p. 349), often also with the bursa 

 m. gastrocnemii lateralis (see p. 350). 



