A coupling assembly for coupling a rod to a bone anchoring element, and including a receiving part having a first end, a second end, and an accommodation space having an opening at the second end for inserting a head of the bone anchoring element, a pressure element insertable from the first end, positionable in the accommodation space, and configured to hold the head, the pressure element having at least one spring portion extending circumferentially around the pressure element and being radially compressible, and a rod receiving element separable from the pressure element, wherein in a first position, the spring portion is configured to engage an engagement structure at an inner wall of the receiving part to prevent movement of the pressure element towards the first end, and wherein the rod receiving element is configured to move the pressure element from the first position towards the second end.