Articular cartilage is a highly specialized connective tissue of diarthrodial joints. Its principal function is to provide a smooth, lubricated surface for articulation and to facilitate the transmission of loads with a low frictional coefficient.
Where is the articular cartilage at?
Articular cartilage is one of two types of cartilage found in the joints. The other is known as meniscus cartilage, which can also be found in the knees and which acts to distribute load between the articular cartilage surfaces.
What is another name for articular cartilage?
In a joint, hyaline cartilage is referred to as articular cartilage.
Can we live without articular cartilage?
If there was no articular cartilage the bone surfaces would rapidly wear away due the friction that occurs when bone rubs against bone. Articular cartilage is self-lubricating because of its high fluid content which gives it the lowest coefficient of friction of any natural or man-made material.
Why is articular cartilage an important part of long bone structure?
Why is articular cartilage an important part of long bone structure? Articular cartilage allows bones to rub together with reduced friction at joints. As a result of the increase of testosterone at puberty for males: appositional bone growth increases.
What is the function of cartilage?
Cartilage has many functions, including the ability to resist compressive forces, enhance bone resilience, and provide support on bony areas where there is a need for flexibility. The primary cell that makes cartilage is the chondrocyte, which resides within the lacunae.
What is the function of articular cartilage quizlet?
What is Articular Cartilage? Hyaline cartilage covering bone ends at moveable joints. What is the purpose of the outer layer (fibrous capsule) of the Articular Capsule? It strengthens the joint so that the bones don’t pull apart.
What is articular cartilage of the knee?
Articular cartilage is the dense, fibrous cartilage cap that covers the ends of bones within the joint. In the knee, articular cartilage covers the lower end of the femur (thigh bone), the upper end of the tibia (shin bone), and the undersurface of the patella (knee cap).
How many layers of articular cartilage are there?
Articular cartilage does not have a perichondrium, and is composed of four different layers: superficial, transitional (mid), deep (radial), and calcified layers, or zones. A ‘tidemark’ distinguishes between the non-calcified and calcified layers.
How thick is articular cartilage?
These were the superior, anterior, and posterior areas and they had mean cartilage thickness in the ranges 1.24 to 2.25 mm, 1.2 to 1.71 mm, and 1.24 to 1.85 mm respectively.
What is the junction between two bones called?
The point at which two or more bones meet is called a joint, or articulation. Joints are responsible for movement, such as the movement of limbs, and stability, such as the stability found in the bones of the skull.
What is the best painkiller for knee pain?
Over-the-counter medications — such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) — may help ease knee pain. Some people find relief by rubbing the affected knee with creams containing a numbing agent, such as lidocaine, or capsaicin, the substance that makes chili peppers hot.
What happens when articular cartilage is damaged?
Once damaged, articular cartilage will not heal on its own. And over time, the cartilage breaks down and the underlying bone reacts. As the bone stiffens and develops bone spurs (osteophytes), the joints become inflamed and swollen, which damages the cartilage even more, leading to pain, swelling or loss of motion.
Can you walk with no cartilage in your knee?
If left untreated, the joint, especially if it is a weight-bearing one, such as the knee, can eventually become so damaged that the person cannot walk. Apart from immobility, the pain may slowly get worse. All small articular cartilage defects can eventually progress to osteoarthritis if given enough time.
What is the importance of articular cartilage covering the epiphysis of bones?
The periosteum covers the entire outer surface except where the epiphyses meet other bones to form joints ((Figure)). In this region, the epiphyses are covered with articular cartilage, a thin layer of cartilage that reduces friction and acts as a shock absorber.
What is the end of the bone called?
At each end of the bone, at the site of the synovial joint, is an area called epiphysis. At the juncture between the two is an area called the metaphysis.
What is spongy bone called?
Spongy (Cancellous) Bone.
