Abstract : The synovial joint, by load bearing and by minimal wear and minimal friction conferring, is considered as a perfect tribological system. During these last years, researchs in articular biomechanics have been performed to study how the joint friction coefficient, a dimensionless measure which represents the ratio between the frictional force on the normal force, was close to zero. Today, there is still no consensual explanation and the articular prosthesis partially imitates the biological mechanics. This review describes the composition and the general properties of the synovial joint components. Additionally, different theorical models, on the tribology of the articular triplex cartilage-synovial fluid-cartilage, are explained.