SYNOVIAL MEMBRANES. 183 



and the preparation of the synovial surfaces of the 

 joints was given under Articular Cartilage (p. 93). 

 But in the last-mentioned place nothing was said 

 as to the mode of demonstrating the synovial mem- 

 brane proper, for we had there to do only with the 

 cells and cell spaces of the cartilage, and the transi- 

 tions met with to those of the connective tissue of 

 the membrane. The appearance presented by the 

 membrane itself is shown in surface sections made 

 in a similar way but from the inner surface of the 

 capsule of the joint. It will be seen that in the ox 

 the cells, or rather in the silvered preparations the 

 white cell-spaces, form a close irregular network by 

 the union of their processes ; in fact, so completely 

 have the cells become extended into branches that 

 it is difficult in many cases to make out where the 

 body of the cell has been. In the human synovial 

 membranes this is not the case ; in fact, the appear- 

 ances are quite characteristic of ordinary areolar 

 tissue. The arrangement of the corpuscles into epi- 

 thelioid patches is not frequent, but there is no con- 

 tinuous epithelioid covering, as in the serous mem- 

 branes. Moreover, the lymphatics, which were so 

 numerous in those, are not to be seen in the synovial 

 membranes, although capillaries are present and in 

 many places approach close to the surface. 



Preparation 12. But to study the characteristic 

 arrangement of the bloodvessels of the synovial 

 membranes and to show the drcuhis articuli vascu- 

 losus, a preparation must be made from one of the 

 joints of a limb that has been fully injected. Sur- 

 face sections are then made of the transitional region 

 where the synovial membrane terminates on the 

 cartilage, and including also a part of the membrane. 

 They are mounted in the usual way in dammar 

 varnish, but without being stained. 



Preparation 13. Fnally the Haversian fringes, 

 with their secondary processes, may be prepared. 

 They may be examined fresh in salt solution, and 

 may also be obtained from the joint which was 



