Overview
Cartilage covers the end of bones in joints to provide shock absorption during movement. The synovium is the membrane that surrounds the joint and is filled with synovial fluid, which provides nutrients and oxygen to the cartilage.
Review Date 8/12/2023
Updated by: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.