Popliteus bursa

Last revised by Henry Knipe on 13 Oct 2022

The popliteus bursa also known as subpopliteal recess is a synovial lined knee expansion or recess and located in the posterolateral corner of the knee.

The popliteus bursa is an expansion of the synovial membrane positioned between the posterior portion of the lateral meniscus and can extend up to 1 cm below the joint line. Its anteromedial wall is formed by the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus and its posterolateral border by the popliteus tendon. Superior and inferior boundaries consist of the superior and inferior popliteal fascicles. The posterior part of the bursa is of ovoid shape and the more anterior and lateral part forms a rather rhomboid shape 1.

Rarely the popliteus tendon takes an intraarticular course within the subpopliteal recess 1.

Distortion or absence of the popliteal recess or bursa can be associated with the following conditions 1:

Expansion can be due to the following pathologies 1,2:

ADVERTISEMENT: Supporters see fewer/no ads