- Anastomosis around a joint (periarticular anastomosis, circulus articularis vasculosus): network of arteries surrounding a synovial joint, formed by union of branches of arteries in its vicinity.
Blood Supply to Synovial Joints
- Supplies the capsule, synovial membrane and epiphysis of the joint.
Blood supply to joint components
Component
Articular cartilage
- Blood supply
- Avascular
Fibrous capsule and ligaments
- Blood supply
- Poor blood supply
Synovial membrane
- Blood supply
- Rich blood supply; nourishes periphery of articular cartilage
Clinical
- Cartilage nutrition: articular cartilage is avascular, so the periphery of the articular cartilage depends on the rich vascular plexus of the synovial membrane, part of the periarticular anastomosis, for its nutrition.