Orthopaedic Surgery/Articular Tissues

Articular tissues


 * 1) Definition and Structure:
 * 2) * Articular cartilage is a specialized connective tissue found in synovial joints.
 * 3) * It consists of hyaline cartilage with a dense extracellular matrix (ECM).
 * 4) * The ECM primarily contains collagen, proteoglycans, and glycoproteins.
 * 5) * Chondrocytes, specialized cells within the cartilage, are scattered throughout.
 * 6) * Remarkably, articular cartilage lacks blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatic tissue.
 * 7) Function:
 * 8) * The main role of articular cartilage is to provide an optimal surface for joint movement.
 * 9) * It prevents friction between bones during articulation.
 * 10) * Additionally, it facilitates the transmission of loads to the underlying bone.
 * 11) Clinical Importance:
 * 12) * Articular cartilage injuries can lead to significant musculoskeletal dysfunction.
 * 13) * Unfortunately, cartilage has limited healing ability, emphasizing the need for preservation.