Bursitis

Bursitis is the inflammation of one or more bursa, or small sacks of oil, in the body. The term bursa is Latin for purse, which is what a bursa resembles. The bursa rest at the points where internal functionaries, like muscles and tendons, slide across bone. In the bursa?s proper state, they create a smooth and almost frictionless surface over which to glide. With hundreds of them throughout the body they provide this surface for all human motion, making movement ideally painless. When Bursitis takes hold, however, those movements that rely on a specific sac become rough and painful. Movement of tendons and muscles over the inflamed bursa only causes it to become more inflamed, perpetuating the problem.

External links

• MedlinePlus Medical Dictionary
• About.com's General Bursitis Information