Cartilage is the slippery tissue on the ends of bones, in between joints, and elsewhere in the body. There are two kinds of cartilage in the knee: Articular cartilage sits at the end of a bone to provide a slippery surface that allows the two bones of the joint to glide easily against one another.
What does articular cartilage look like?
Articular cartilage is the smooth, white tissue that covers the ends of bones where they come together to form joints. Healthy cartilage in our joints makes it easier to move. It allows the bones to glide over each other with very little friction.
Can cartilage move in your knee?
In some of these injuries, a piece of cartilage or bone may become detached. This “loose body” can move about in the joint, and it may occasionally get stuck, which can be very painful. When diagnosing cartilage injuries like those mentioned above, the doctor will perform a physical exam and evaluate your symptoms.
What is atavistic epiphysis?
Atavistic epiphysis: A bone that is independent phylogenetically but is now fused with another bone. These types of fused bones are called atavistic, e.g., the coracoid process of the scapula, which has been fused in humans, but is separate in four-legged animals.
Can you hurt your articular cartilage?
Articular cartilage injuries can occur as a result of either traumatic mechanical destruction, or progressive mechanical degeneration (wear and tear). With mechanical destruction, a direct blow or other trauma can injure the articular cartilage.
Does MRI show cartilage damage?
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.
What does damaged cartilage in the knee feel like?
Cartilage damage can affect your knee in different ways. Torn cartilage can get caught between the structures of your knee, resulting in pain, swelling and sometimes a locking or catching sensation. You may also experience a feeling of instability and weakness.
What is an example of atavism?
The definition of an atavism is a genetic trait that reoccurs after skipping several generations. If a person has blue eyes like her great great grandmother but her mother, grandmother, and great grandmother have brown eyes, then having blue eyes is an example of an atavism.
What does the diaphysis do?
The diaphysis contains the medulla of the bone, which houses bone marrow. The marrow is the primary tissue responsible for the production of erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets. The epiphysis is the terminal end of the long bone that is typically responsible for articulation.
What causes loss of cartilage in the knee joint?
The most common cause of loss of cartilage in the knee joint is knee osteoarthritis. When cartilage loss is severe, standing and walking can become very difficult due to pain.
What are the different types of arthroscopic knee procedures?
Different types of arthroscopic knee procedures to manage loss of cartilage include microfracture surgery, autologous chondrocyte implantation, and osteochondral autograft transplantation. Can Joint Cartilage Be Replaced for Knee Arthritis?
Can losing weight help prevent knee cartilage loss?
Losing extra body weight can help decrease symptoms of cartilage loss by reducing the pressure applied on the knee joints and slowing down inflammatory processes caused by metabolically disrupting fat cells. 2
What is microfracture surgery for knee replacement surgery?
With microfracture surgery, a surgeon will use a drill to create mini fractures in the bones of the knee joint after removing an area of damaged cartilage. Creating small holes in the bone helps stimulate bone marrow cells, which can help spur the growth of new cartilage cells.
