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The infrapatellar fat pad and the synovial membrane: an anatomo‐functional unit
Author(s) -
Macchi Veronica,
Stocco Elena,
Stecco Carla,
Belluzzi Elisa,
Favero Marta,
Porzionato Andrea,
De Caro Raffaele
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of anatomy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1469-7580
pISSN - 0021-8782
DOI - 10.1111/joa.12820
Subject(s) - infrapatellar fat pad , adipose tissue , fat pad , synovial membrane , medicine , anatomy , cartilage , pathology , inflammation , osteoarthritis , endocrinology , alternative medicine
The infrapatellar pad, a fibro‐adipose tissue with peculiar microscopic and mechanical features, is gaining wide attention in the field of rheumatological research. The purpose of this descriptive review is to summarize the most recent published evidence on the anatomic, physiologic and biomechanical inter‐relationship between the infrapatellar fat pad and the knee synovial membrane. As an extrasynovial tissue, the infrapatellar fat pad does not directly interact with the articular cartilage; based on its location in close contact with the synovial membrane, and due to the metabolic properties of adipose tissue, it may influence the behavior of the synovial membrane. In fact, considering evidence of macroscopic and microscopic anatomy, the infrapatellar fat pad is the site of insertion of the infrapatellar and medial synovial plicae. Also biochemically, there is much evidence highlighting the interaction among these two structures; in the case of inflammation, the mutual interplay is ascribable to the release of pro‐inflammatory mediators stimulating the proliferation of inflammatory cells and promoting tissue modifications in both. All these assumptions could support the emerging idea that the infrapatellar fat pad and the synovial membrane may be considered a morpho‐functional unit.