- See:
friction and lubrication:
- Discussion:
- synovial fluid is an ultrafiltrate of blood plasma plus hyaluronic acid and glycoproteins;
-
synovial fluid resembles material in interstices of loose connective tissue in respect to both components;
- rate and method of passage of substances into & out of
synovial fluid
depend upon the molecular size of the substance;
- gases & crystalloids diffuse rapidly in both directions;
- larger proteins appear to leave fluid by way of lymphatics;
- particulate matter is taken up by macrophages, and its egress from the joint cavity is quite slow;
- inflamed
synovium contains large clefts which probably permit passage of molecules of almost any size;
- one of main functions of the lining cells of synovium is to secrete certain components of the
synovial fluid;
- in addition to substances secreted by the lining cells, synovial fluid contains proteins that
are electrophoretically and immunologically identical to plasma proteins;
- these proteins come from blood that circulates in synovial membranes;
