Bursa is a thin, lubricated fluid-filled sac located at points of friction between a bone and the surrounding soft tissue, such as skin, muscles, ligaments, and tendons like a fluid-filled balloon. About 160 bursae are present in adult body size of which depends on the location of the bursae. Bursae are fluid-filled sacs that help your joints move glide and slide smoothly.

Understanding the Context

The synovial fluid in a bursa helps to reduce friction in your body. 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.

Key Insights

Bursae are small fluid-filled sacs that reduce friction between moving parts in your body's joints. Hip bursitis is inflammation or irritation of one or more of the bursae (shown in blue) in your hip. Your healthcare provider will help you find treatments that let your injured bursae heal and solutions to prevent bursitis in the future. Don’t rush your recovery β€” rest for as long as your provider suggests. The bursa is a small sac filled with lubricating fluid present in joints of the body.

Final Thoughts

They are usually found in the synovial joints, between the tendons and bones. The major joints (e.g. knee joint) can have several bursae, and there are up to 160 bursae present in the human body. Most bursae cluster around the large joints of the arms and legs, where the greatest forces and most repetitive movements occur. The shoulder, hip, knee, and elbow each contain several bursae positioned at key friction points. Discover a complete, region-by-region guide to all the bursae in the human body, detailing their locations and functions to help you understand joint cushioning and movement.