Most bursa problems can be treated with rest and over-the-counter medication, but severe cases may require surgery. A bursa is a small, fluid-filled sac within your body that lies near bony prominences and joints. Bursitis is painful swelling of a bursa, one of the fluid-filled sacs that cushion spaces between bones, muscles and other tissue inside your body.

Understanding the Context

Shoulder bursitis is inflammation or irritation of a bursa (shown in blue) in your shoulder. Bursae are small fluid-filled sacs that reduce friction between moving parts in your body's joints. Elbow bursitis is inflammation or irritation of the bursa (shown in blue) in your elbow. Bursitis is inflammation or irritation of a bursa sac.

Key Insights

You have these sacs all over your body. They’re filled with fluid that eases rubbing and friction between tissues such as bones, muscles,... Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa, a tiny fluid-filled sac that functions as a gliding surface to reduce friction between bone and overlying soft tissues of the body. An injury, infection, or an underlying rheumatic condition can cause bursa inflammation. Bursitis is the inflammation of a bursa.

Final Thoughts

A bursa is a closed, fluid-filled sac. It works as a cushion and gliding surface to reduce friction between tissues of the body. The major bursae (this is the plural of bursa) are located next to the tendons near the large joints, such as the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees. A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that cushions an area of friction between tissues, such as tendons and bones. Bursae reduce friction between moving parts of the body, such as around the joints of the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, and adjacent to the Achilles tendon in the heel. Bursitis is the inflammation of one or more bursae in the body.

[1][2][3] Bursae are small sacs filled with lubricating synovial fluid that decrease friction at contact points between bones, skin, tendons, and muscle. [1] .