cartilagetherelated

Cartilage-related refers to topics concerning cartilage tissue, its biology, structure, and disorders. Cartilage is a flexible, avascular connective tissue that covers joint surfaces and forms various structures in the body.

There are three main types: hyaline cartilage, which covers articular surfaces and forms the ends of growing bones; elastic cartilage, which provides flexible support in the ear and epiglottis; and fibrocartilage, which resists compressive forces in intervertebral discs, menisci, and pubic symphysis. Chondrocytes reside in lacunae within an extracellular matrix rich in type II collagen and proteoglycans.

Cartilage provides smooth surfaces for joint movement, distributes loads, and plays a role in growth in early development. It is avascular and aneural, with nutrition derived from synovial fluid, contributing to limited intrinsic repair capacity.

Common cartilage-related conditions include osteoarthritis with articular cartilage loss, chondromalacia patellae, and chondrosarcoma (cartilage-producing cancer). Traumatic cartilage injuries can lead to focal defects, which may impair joint function.

Repair and regeneration are challenging due to avascularity. Treatments include microfracture, autologous chondrocyte implantation, osteochondral grafts, and tissue-engineered scaffolds. Research explores stem cell therapies, growth factors, and biomaterials to restore cartilage quality.

Diagnosis typically relies on MRI and sometimes ultrasound or CT to assess cartilage integrity; arthroscopy provides direct visualization. Understanding cartilage biology and pathology informs management of joint diseases and advances in regenerative medicine.