Lint: synovium

"The synovial membrane consists of an intimal layer and a thicker layer of loose connective tissue, the subintima, which contains fewer cells and is composed of fatty, fibrous or loose areolar tissue. The intima is well innervated and vascularised containing different types of cells including fibroblasts, macrophages, adipocytes, nerve fibres, vascular endothelial cells as well as lymphocytes ^1-4."

"The synovial intima features two types of synoviocytes: macrophagic (type A) and fibroblastic (type B) cells. The macrophagic type is mobile being able to remove and degrade waste and cell debris. The fibroblast-like type possesses dendritic processes forming a network within the surface of the synovial membrane and are involved in the production of matrix components such as hyaluronan, fibronectin and collagen ³."

"The synovium will be mostly imaged and assessed with MRI and ultrasound in the setting of inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, tenosynovitis and bursitis in which it becomes thickened and increased amounts of synovial fluid will be present."