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Knee Joint

Knee Joint

The knee joint is the most complicated joint in the body. It consists of three articulations– two tibiofemoral and one patellofemoral. As is characteristic of synovial joints, the knee joint has a thin articular capsule that partially surrounds this joint cavity. Additionally, several ligaments, muscles, and cartilaginous structures support the movement of the knee.
A total of seven ligaments support the knee joint. The patellar ligament, which is also attached to the quadriceps femoris group...

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The external iliac artery transitions out of the body cavity, entering the femoral region of the lower leg, and is renamed the femoral artery at the point where it traverses the body wall. This artery is responsible for the distribution of blood to the thigh's deep muscles and the skin's ventral and lateral regions, achieved through several minor branches and the lateral deep femoral artery, which also spawns a lateral circumflex artery. The knee area receives blood from the genicular artery,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 25, 2026

Flow Cytometry Analysis of Immune Cell Subsets within the Murine Spleen, Bone Marrow, Lymph Nodes and Synovial Tissue in an Osteoarthritis Model

Flow Cytometry Analysis of Immune Cell Subsets within the Murine Spleen, Bone Marrow, Lymph Nodes and Synovial Tissue in an Osteoarthritis Model

Published on: April 24, 2020

Lymphatic vessels in osteoarthritic human knees.

D A Walsh¹, P Verghese², G J Cook²

¹Arthritis Research UK Pain Centre, Academic Rheumatology, University of Nottingham, Clinical Sciences Building, City Hospital, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK; Rheumatology, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Mansfield Road, Sutton in Ashfield NG17 4JL, UK.

Osteoarthritis and Cartilage

|February 14, 2012

Summary

Osteoarthritis (OA) patients show reduced lymphatic vessel density in knee synovium. This lower lymphatic density correlates with joint effusion but not with radiographic severity or synovitis, suggesting impaired fluid drainage in OA.

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Tissue Collection and RNA Extraction from the Human Osteoarthritic Knee Joint

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Last Updated: May 25, 2026

Flow Cytometry Analysis of Immune Cell Subsets within the Murine Spleen, Bone Marrow, Lymph Nodes and Synovial Tissue in an Osteoarthritis Model

Flow Cytometry Analysis of Immune Cell Subsets within the Murine Spleen, Bone Marrow, Lymph Nodes and Synovial Tissue in an Osteoarthritis Model

Published on: April 24, 2020

Tissue Collection and RNA Extraction from the Human Osteoarthritic Knee Joint

Tissue Collection and RNA Extraction from the Human Osteoarthritic Knee Joint

Published on: July 22, 2021

Area of Science:

Orthopedics
Immunology
Vascular Biology

Background:

The lymphatic system's role in knee osteoarthritis (OA) is not fully understood.
Investigating lymphatic vessel distribution and function in OA is crucial for understanding disease mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

To determine if lymphatic vessel density in knee synovium correlates with clinical, histological, or radiographic features of osteoarthritis.
To compare lymphatic vessel density in OA patients versus non-arthritic controls.

Main Methods:

Synovium samples from 60 OA knees and 60 control knees were analyzed using immunohistochemistry for podoplanin.
Lymphatic vessel density (LVD) and lymphatic endothelial cell (LEC) fractional area were quantified.
Clinical effusion, radiographic OA severity, and histological synovitis were assessed.

Main Results:

Lymphatic vessels were found in OA and control synovium, but not in subchondral bone.
OA synovia exhibited significantly lower LVD and LEC fractional area compared to controls.
In OA, lower LVD was associated with clinical effusion but not with radiographic severity or histological synovitis.

Conclusions:

Knee osteoarthritis is characterized by reduced lymphatic vessel density in the synovium.
Impaired synovial fluid drainage due to lymphatic abnormalities may affect the interpretation of effusion as a marker of synovitis in OA.