What is "synovial membrane"

Synovial \Syn*o"vi*al\, a. [Cf. F. synovial.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to synovia; secreting synovia.

Synovial capsule, a closed sac of synovial membrane situated between the articular surfaces at diarthrodial joints.

Synovial fluid, synovia.

Synovial membrane, the dense and very smooth connective tissue membrane which secretes synovia and surrounds synovial capsules and other synovial cavities.

n. (context anatomy English) A thin membrane of joints, comprised of smooth connective tissue and which secretes synovial fluid.

n. a thin membrane in synovial (freely moving) joints that lines the point capsule and secretes synovial fluid [syn: synovium]

The synovial membrane (also known as synovium or stratum synoviale) is a specialized connective tissue that lines the inner surface of capsules of synovial joints and tendon sheath. It makes direct contact with the synovial fluid lubricant, which it is primarily responsible for maintaining. In contact with the synovial fluid at the tissue surface are many rounded macrophage-like synovial cells (type A) and Fibroblast-like (type B) synovial cells. Type A cells maintains the synovial fluid by removing wear-and-tear debris and type B cells produces hyaluronan among other extracellular components in the synovial fluid.