Syndecan‐3 is a member of a family of heparan sulfate proteoglycans that function as extracellular matrix receptors and as co‐receptors for growth factors and signalling molecules. A variety of studies indicate that syndecan‐3 is involved in several aspects of limb morphogenesis and skeletal development. Syndecan‐3 participates in limb outgrowth and proliferation in response to the apical ectodermal ridge; mediates cell‐matrix and/ or cell‐cell interactions involved in regulating the onset of chondrogenesis; may be involved in regulating the onset of osteogenesis and joint formation and, plays a role in regulating the proliferation of epiphyseal chondrocytes during endochondral ossification. Microsc. Res. Tech. 43:123–130, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.