BIOLOGY OF THE SYNOVIAL JOINT

This unique collection of reviews has arisen due to the belief of the Editors that joints need to be studied as a whole organ. Too often workers concentrate only on one tissue without considering the effects that a pathological change or injury in one part may have upon the whole joint. The synovial joint is a complex unit composed of many separate parts, such as cartilage, bone, ligament, and synovium, all of which play a role in the functionality of the whole. These tissues must exist and work together in close, and often strenuous, conditions. Therefore a certain level of interaction is to be expected.

The authors have been chosen for their wide-ranging expertise, thus contributions range from the molecular and biochemical, through development and cell biology, to histological, anatomical, and clinical studies. Together they provide a comprehensive and useful source of reference for anyone interested in the biology of joints.