Histological Aspects of Articular Cartilage

Articular cartilage, because of the particular function in the vertebrate skeletal system, has a highly specialized organization. The biomechanical properties of cartilage rely largely on the nature of the extracellular matrix (ECM) components, their three-dimensional arrangement, and the relative quantity of ECM in the tissue. Cells and ECM are closely functionally related, and their physiology and morphology are altered simultaneously with age, pathological influences, or alterations of mechanical stress. The cellular response to the environment and the variations of the ECM are morphologically discernible. The present article is intended to summarize the morphological features of articular cartilage from the histological point of view.