Which autoimmune disease attacks the synovial membrane and degrades the surfaces of the bones, leading to joint damage?

• A. Rheumatoid Arthritis or Poly-Arthritis
• B. Osteo-Arthritis
• C. Osteoporosis
• D. Voluntary Muscle

Answer: (A)

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the lining of the joints, the synovial membrane. This causes inflammation inside the joint, and over time the inflammatory tissue can invade and damage the cartilage and bone surfaces, leading to joint destruction and deformity. It often involves multiple joints, commonly in a symmetric pattern, and stiffness that lasts into the morning, reflecting its systemic inflammatory nature rather than simple wear and tear.

Osteoarthritis, by contrast, is a degenerative, non-autoimmune condition driven by wear and aging. It mainly wears down cartilage over time and tends to affect joints asymmetrically, often in older adults.

Osteoporosis is a bone-density problem, making bones fragile and more prone to fractures, rather than causing joint lining inflammation or surface degradation.

Voluntary muscle is not a disease affecting joints; it refers to skeletal muscle, which is separate from the joint tissues discussed here.

So the description of attacking the synovial membrane and degrading bone surfaces fits rheumatoid arthritis best.