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DictionarybursaJoint cushioning sac
noun

bursa

BUR-suh/ˈbɜːrsə/

A fluid-filled sac that reduces friction around a joint.

The knee cutaway shows a fluid-filled bursa cushioning the tendon against bone.

A simple anatomical side cutaway of a knee with one small blue fluid-filled bursa between tendon and bone, no labels.
Etymology
bursaGreekhide, skin

The sense developed from “hide” or “skin” to a bag or purse, then to an anatomical pouch. Bursa shortens an expression meaning “mucus pouch,” naming the small fluid-filled sac.

In context

Ortho Eval Pal with Paul Marquis PT0:24
usually the the Bursa is a fluid-filled sack that's very very thin and it doesn't look like anything it looks just like the tip of the elbow but when it becomes swollen and inflamed it'll stick out
Olecranon Bursitis

More examples

  • The diagram shows a bursa between the tendon and bone.
  • Inflammation made the bursa swollen and painful.
  • Several bursae help tissues slide smoothly around joints.

Forms

bursa · bursae · bursas

bursitis noun — Inflammation of a bursa.

Similar words

ligament
Connects bones, while a bursa is a fluid-filled cushioning sac.