Which ligaments surround a joint and produce the synovial fluid?

• A. Collateral ligaments
• B. Capsular ligaments
• C. Interosseous ligaments
• D. Sesamoidean ligaments

Answer: (B)

The space around a synovial joint is enclosed by the joint capsule, and the ligaments that form that enclosure are capsular ligaments. They help hold the bones together and stabilize the joint while still allowing movement. Inside the capsule, the synovial membrane lines the inner surface and continually produces synovial fluid to lubricate and nourish the joint surfaces. So, capsular ligaments are the ones that define the surrounding boundary of the joint, with the synovial membrane (not the ligaments themselves) producing the fluid. The other ligaments listed serve different roles—stabilizing along specific directions, connecting bones within regions, or supporting nearby structures—but they do not form the enclosing capsule around the joint.