A bursa is a lubricated sac or pocket that exists within mobile tissues to facilitate a limb's movement.
Page updated September 2023 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)
Bursae (plural) are usually closely related to tendons where there is a lot of frictional movement.
Bursae of the knee
In the knee there are several bursae (plural of bursa), the main ones being:
- suprapatellar bursa
- pre-patellar bursa
- infrapatellar bursa
- deep infrapatellar bursa
- pes anserine bursa
Occasionally bursae become inflamed and distended with fluid. They can also become infected. The condition of an inflamed bursa is called bursitis.
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A patient struggles with recurrent bursitis.
Peer-reviewed papers
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Citation: Chatra PS. Bursae around the knee joints. Indian J Radiol Imaging. 2012 Jan;22(1):27-30. doi: 10.4103/0971-3026.95400. PMID: 22623812; PMCID: PMC3354353.
Quote: "Many different types of bursae are seen around the knee joint. Thorough knowledge of the anatomy of the region is of utmost importance for arriving at a correct diagnosis.
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