Joint Cartilage

Joint Cartilage - a stiff and inflexible connective tissue found around bones and joints that coat the bones and joints, preventing them from rubbing against one another during motion. Cartilage is found in many areas of the body like the rib cage, ears, nose, elbow joints, knee joints, ankles, the bronchial tubes and the intervertebral discs. It is not as hard and rigid as bones, but is stiffer and less flexible than muscle.

• Joint Cartilage Composition
• Types Of Cartilage
• Joint Cartilage - Problems

Joint Cartilage Composition

Cartilage is composed of

• Specialized cells (Chondrocytes) that make up a large amount of the cartilage
• Type II collagen (except Fibrocartilage which also contains type I collagen)
• Fibers
• Abundant ground substance rich in proteoglycan
• Elastin fibers

Types Of Cartilage

Cartilage is classified into three types:

• Elastic cartilage
• Hyaline cartilage
• Fibrocartilage

Cartilage does not contain blood vessels and the cartilage cells (chondrocytes) are supplied with nutrients by cell diffusion Compared to other connective tissues, cartilage grows and repairs more slowly. Cartilage can not be seen by x-rays.

Joint Cartilage - Problems

Chondrification (also known as chondrogenesis) is the process by which cartilage is formed from condensed mesenchyme tissue. There are several diseases which can affect the cartilage like Chondrodystrophies, which are a group of diseases characterized by disturbance of growth and subsequent ossification of cartilage. Other common bone and joint cartilage diseases are:

• Osteoarthritis - cartilage covering bones (articular cartilage) is thinned or completely worn out, resulting in bones rubbing against bones, causing pain, reduced motion, and swelling
• Traumatic Cartilage Rupture - cartilage detachment from one of the connecting bones from impact or stress
• Achondroplasia - reduced chondrocytes during infancy and childhood, resulting in dwarfism
• Costochondritis - inflammation of cartilage in the rib area, causing chest pain and discomfort
• Spinal Disc Herniation - asymmetrical compression of an intervertebral disc, causing a herniation, often compressing adjacent nerves and causing back pain or shooting nerve pain throughout the body
• Relapsing Polychondritis - destruction of cartilage, especially of the nose and ears, causing disfiguration
• Cartilage tissue Tumors - benign (chondroma) or malignant (chondrosarcoma) tumors are possible in cartilage