• Synovial membrane forms boundary of joint space, is firmly anchored to capsule; smooth contour except has numerous villous folds near osseous insertion
• Synovial lining lacks basement membrane, overlies vascularized loose connective tissue stroma; allows for quick exchange between blood and synovial fluid
• Synoviocytes:
  • 1-4 cells deep over synovial membrane
  • Fibroblast-like cells also associated with macrophages
  • Not present over articular cartilage
  • Produce proteins, hyaluronic acid (lubricant, nutrition for cartilage)
  • Positive for VCAM-1, vimentin
  • Negative for keratin
• Hyaline cartilage:
  • No blood supply, no lymphatics, no innervation
  • Thickest at periphery of concave surfaces and in central portions of convex surfaces
  • Composed of type 2 collagen, water, proteoglycans, chondrocytes
• Chondrocytes:
  • Synthesize and digest matrix
  • Secrete inactive enzymes and enrich matrix with enzyme inhibitors
• Tendons: composed of closely packed type 1 collagen fibers and surrounded by connective tissue tendon sheath
• Collagen: arranged in arches to allow cartilage to resist tensile stresses and to transmit vertical loads

Normal synovium

Hyaline cartilage

Joint

Tendon

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