Cartilagerelated

Cartilage-related, or cartilagerelated, describes topics connected with cartilage—the firm, flexible connective tissue found in joints, the rib cage, ears, nose, and airways. Cartilage provides structural support, reduces friction in joints, and acts as a flexible scaffold for developing bones and for maintaining shape in certain structures.

There are three main cartilage types: hyaline cartilage, which covers joint surfaces and is found in the nose and trachea; elastic cartilage, which provides more flexibility in structures such as the ear and epiglottis; and fibrocartilage, which offers high tensile strength in intervertebral discs and menisci.

Cartilage is avascular and aneural; nutrition and waste exchange occur mainly by diffusion from surrounding tissues. Chondrocytes reside in lacunae within an extracellular matrix rich in collagen and proteoglycans. Most bones form through endochondral ossification, where a cartilage template is gradually replaced by bone. Healing after injury is slow and often incomplete due to the tissue’s limited blood supply.

Cartilage-related disorders include degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis and chondromalacia; growth disturbances such as chondrodysplasias; and neoplastic diseases like chondrosarcoma. Inflammation can accompany arthritis and contribute to cartilage degradation, affecting joint function and mobility.

Diagnosis relies on imaging methods such as MRI and radiography, and may involve arthroscopy or biopsy in unclear cases. Treatments range from conservative approaches (weight management, physical therapy, NSAIDs) to surgical repair of focal lesions, including microfracture, osteochondral grafts, and autologous chondrocyte implantation. Regenerative strategies under investigation include tissue-engineered scaffolds, stem cell therapies, and growth-factor delivery to restore cartilage function and slow joint degeneration.