What tissue is articular cartilage?

What tissue is articular cartilage?

hyaline cartilage
Articular cartilage is hyaline cartilage and is 2 to 4 mm thick. Unlike most tissues, articular cartilage does not have blood vessels, nerves, or lymphatics. It is composed of a dense extracellular matrix (ECM) with a sparse distribution of highly specialized cells called chondrocytes.

Where is articular cartilage in knee?

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). The articular cartilage is normally a dense, smooth, white structure that provides a very smooth, pain-free gliding surface for knee motion.

What is cartilage give example?

Examples include the rings of the trachea, such as the cricoid cartilage and carina. Cartilage is composed of specialized cells called chondrocytes that produce a large amount of collagenous extracellular matrix, abundant ground substance that is rich in proteoglycan and elastin fibers.

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.

How is articular cartilage damage treated?

Surgery is often the best treatment option for damaged articular cartilage since it does not heal well on its own. Some surgeries aim to relieve symptoms, while other surgical procedures are intended to repair and restore damaged articular cartilage.

Which is the weakest cartilage?

Fibrous cartilage
Fibrous cartilage is the weakest of the three types of cartilage. It has the fewest cells, so it has numerous fibres and the most intercellular space. Fibrous cartilage is softer than hyaline cartilage, but it has thicker collagen fibres.

Can you walk with articular cartilage damage?

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.

How do you fix articular cartilage damage?

Those options include arthroscopic surgery using techniques to remove damaged cartilage and increase blood flow from the underlying bone (e.g. drilling, pick procedure). For smaller articular cartilage defects which are asymptomatic, surgery may not be required.

What exactly is cartilage?

Cartilage a strong and smooth substance made up of “chondrocytes,” or specialized cartilage cells, that produce a matrix of collagen, proteoglycans (a special type of protein) and other non-collagenous proteins. These materials help cartilage attract water and give it its shape and specific properties.

Can you walk with no cartilage in your knee?

Can articular cartilage be repaired?

Articular cartilage can be damaged by injury or normal wear and tear. Because cartilage does not heal itself well, doctors have developed surgical techniques to stimulate the growth of new cartilage. Restoring articular cartilage can relieve pain and allow better function.

Does cartilage damage show on MRI?

MRI scanning is very good at showing soft tissues, but is poorer at showing bone. It is commonly used to diagnose meniscal injuries, ligament injuries, articular cartilage damage, bone tumours, soft tissue tumours and can also show up other intra-articular abnormalities.