Trochanteric bursa
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At the time the article was created Imran Jindani had no recorded disclosures.
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View Francis Deng's current disclosures- Subgluteus maximus bursa
- Greater trochanteric bursa
The trochanteric bursa, also known as the greater trochanteric bursa or, more specifically, the subgluteus maximus bursa, is the hip bursa located deep to the gluteus maximus muscle that is usually implicated in trochanteric bursitis.
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Gross anatomy
The trochanteric bursa is located deep to the gluteus maximus muscle as it inserts into the fascia lata/iliotibial tract 1,2. It covers the posterior facet of the greater trochanter as well as the insertion of the gluteus medius tendon on the lateral facet and the proximal origin of the vastus lateralis muscle 2.
The trochanteric bursa is the largest of the bursae around the greater trochanter 3. In adults, it measures around 4-5 cm in craniocaudal and mediolateral dimensions 2.
In many cases, there is actually more than one bursal space in this locale 1. The main trochanteric bursa is the deep subgluteus maximus bursa, which may be associated with a superficial subgluteus maximus bursa and/or secondary deep subgluteus maximus bursa or bursae 4. The gluteofemoral bursa sometimes covers part of the greater trochanter as well but is generally located more inferiorly 4.
Innervation
The trochanteric bursa is supplied by branches of the inferior gluteal nerve 1.
Histology
Histology demonstrates synovial lining 1.
Radiographic features
MRI
The normal bursa is surrounded by fat on either side and can therefore be identified on T1-weighted images as a thin hypointense line between layers of high signal intensity parallel to the posterior facet of the greater trochanter 2.
Related pathology
See also
References
- 1. Dunn T, Heller CA, McCarthy SW, Dos Remedios C. Anatomical study of the "trochanteric bursa". (2003) Clinical anatomy (New York, N.Y.). 16 (3): 233-40. doi:10.1002/ca.10084 - Pubmed
- 2. Pfirrmann CW, Chung CB, Theumann NH, Trudell DJ, Resnick D. Greater trochanter of the hip: attachment of the abductor mechanism and a complex of three bursae--MR imaging and MR bursography in cadavers and MR imaging in asymptomatic volunteers. (2001) Radiology. 221 (2): 469-77. doi:10.1148/radiol.2211001634 - Pubmed
- 3. Long SS, Surrey DE, Nazarian LN. Sonography of greater trochanteric pain syndrome and the rarity of primary bursitis. (2013) AJR. American journal of roentgenology. 201 (5): 1083-6. doi:10.2214/AJR.12.10038 - Pubmed
- 4. Woodley SJ, Mercer SR, Nicholson HD. Morphology of the bursae associated with the greater trochanter of the femur. (2008) The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume. 90 (2): 284-94. doi:10.2106/JBJS.G.00257 - Pubmed
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Related articles: Anatomy: Lower limb
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