From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
Synovial bursa
Fluid-filled sacs which cushion the bones and muscles around joints
Fluid-filled sacs which cushion the bones and muscles around joints
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Synovial bursa |
| Latin | bursa synovialis |
| Image | Joint.svg |
| Caption | Typical joint |
| Image2 | Knee bursae.svg |
| Caption2 | Within the knee joint: bursae visible top right, middle right and bottom right |
A synovial bursa, usually simply bursa (: bursae or bursas), is a small fluid-filled sac lined by synovial membrane with an inner capillary layer of viscous synovial fluid (similar in consistency to that of a raw egg white). It provides a cushion between bones and tendons and/or muscles around a joint. This helps to reduce friction between the bones and allows free movement. Bursae are found around most major joints of the body.
Structure
Based on location, there are three types of bursa: subcutaneous, submuscular and subtendinous. A subcutaneous bursa is located between the skin and an underlying bone. It allows skin to move smoothly over the bone. Examples include the prepatellar bursa located over the kneecap and the olecranon bursa at the tip of the elbow. A submuscular bursa is found between a muscle and an underlying bone, or between adjacent muscles. These prevent rubbing of the muscle during movements. A large submuscular bursa, the trochanteric bursa, is found at the lateral hip, between the greater trochanter of the femur and the overlying gluteus maximus muscle. A subtendinous bursa is found between a tendon and a bone. Examples include the subacromial bursa that protects the tendon of shoulder muscle as it passes under the acromion of the scapula, and the suprapatellar bursa that separates the tendon of the large anterior thigh muscle from the distal femur just above the knee.
An adventitious bursa is a non-native bursa. When any surface of the body is subjected to repeated stress, an adventitious bursa develops under it. Examples are student's elbow and bunion.
Clinical significance
Infection or irritation of a bursa leads to bursitis (inflammation of a bursa). The general term for disease of bursae is "bursopathy".
Etymology
Bursa is Medieval Latin for "purse", so named for the bag-like function of an anatomical bursa. Bursae or bursas is its plural form.
References
Source text
References
- (2013). "Anatomy & physiology". OpenStax.
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
Ask Mako anything about Synovial bursa — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up freeThis content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report