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The articular capsule of the knee joint (commonly referred to as capsular ligament) is wide and lax; thin in front and at the side; and contains the patella ("knee cap"), ligaments, menisci, and bursae.^[1] The capsule consists of a synovial and a fibrous membrane separated by fatty deposits anteriorly and posteriorly.^[2]

Synovial membrane

Anteriorly, the reflection of the synovial membrane lies on the femur; located at some distance from the cartilage because of the presence of the suprapatellar bursa. Above, the reflection appears lifted from the bone by underlying periosteal connective tissue.^[2] In a standing posture, the suprapatellar bursa is seemingly redundant. It is however also referred to as the suprapatellar synovial recess as it gradually unfolds as the knee is flexed; to open up completely when the knee is flexed 130 degrees.^[3] On the tibia, the anterior reflection and attachment of the synovial membrane is located near the cartilage.^[2]

Anteriorly, the infrapatellar fat pad is inserted below the patella and between the two membranes. It extends from the lower margin of the patella above, to the infrapatellar synovial fold below. With its free upper margin, this fold extends dorsally through the joint space to surround the two cruciate ligaments from the front, thuss dividing the surrounding joint space into two chambers. Laterally of this are a pair of alar folds.^[2]

Posteriorly, the femoral attachment of the synovial membrane is located at the cartilaginous margin of the lateral and medial femoral condyles, why the joint space has two dorsal extensions. Between these, the synovial membrane passes in front of the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, why these ligaments are both intracapsular and extra-articular with their tibial attachment located exactly on the cartilage margin. Both the lateral and medial meniscus are, however, located within the synovial capsule.^[2]

Bursae

The numerous bursae surrounding the knee joint can be divided into the communicating and the non-cummunicating bursae:^[2]

• Communicating bursae:
  • The suprapatellar bursa, the largest bursa, extends the joint space anteriorly and proximally.
  • The subpopliteal recess and semimembranosus bursa are located posteriorly and are much smaller
  • The lateral and medial subtendinous bursae of gastrocnemius are located at the origin of the two heads of the gastrocnemius muscle.
• Non-communicating bursae:
  • The subcutaneous prepatellar bursa is located in front of the patella.
  • The [deep] infrapatellar bursa is located under the patella, between the patellar ligament and the fibrous membrane of the joint capsule. It is communicating with the joint space in particular cases.
  • Other less regularly present bursae include the subfascial prepatellar, the subtendinous prepatellar, and the subcutaneous prepatellar bursae.

Adding to the complex structure of the knee space, there are remnants of three embryonic septal divisions of the knee space called synovial plicae:^[4]

• The suprapatellar plica dividing the suprapatellar recess
• The infrapatellar plica, in front of the anterior cruciate ligament, reaches from the intercondylar notch to the infrapateller fat pad
• The medial patellar plica, located adjacent to the patella's medial facet, runs vertically along the medial joint capsule

Additional images

Notes

References

• Burgener, Francis A.; Meyers, Steven P.; Tan, Raymond K. (2002). Differential Diagnosis in Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Thieme. ISBN 1588900851. http://books.google.com/books?id=brsH_IqPzzoC&pg=PA390. 
• Werner, Platzer (2004). Color Atlas of Human Anatomy, Vol. 1: Locomotor System (5th ed.). Thieme. ISBN 3-13-533305-1. 
• Thieme Atlas of Anatomy: General Anatomy and Musculoskeletal System. Thieme. 2006. ISBN 1-58890-419-9. 

External links

• Anatomy at Dartmouth knee/ligaments/ligamen2