Articular Cartilage Anatomy

Courtesy: Harry Benjamin Laing MRCS, Ortho M8, FRCS(Tr and Orth) Tutorials

Articular cartilage
Contents

• Chondrocytes(5%)- synthesis, homeostasis and maintenance of cartilage
• Extra cellular matrix(95%)

Layers

1. SUPERFICIAL ZONE (TANGENTIAL ZONE)-more water and collagen, less proteoglycan
2. INTERMEDIATE ZONE
3. DEEP ZONE- more proteoglycan
4. TIDEMARK
5. CALCIFIED ZONE-Round chondrocytes buried in calcium matrix that has a high concentration of calcium salts. Hypertrophic Chondrocytes secrete Type X Collagen And Alkaline Phosphatase. This Zone has very low proteoglycans