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The Wonder Material: Cartilage

Cartilage, the flexible connective tissue that keeps joint motion fluid by coating the surfaces of the bones in our joints turns out to be far more complex than previously imagined. The function and design of this coating that covers other tissues, including bones at the joint, would seem to be straightforward, but as one study admitted, Exactly how cartilage manages this near-frictionless, shock absorbing function is not fully understood. It is generally accepted that it depends on interactions between fluid in the joint and the molecules that make up the tissue, known as the extracellular matrix (ECM). Studying these subtle dynamics at the microscopic level has long been a goal of scientists

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Articles of Interest

Inspired by Cartilage

What copes with heavy pressure and exists in a state of constant friction, decade after decade, yet barely gets worn down? The answer is the cartilage padding our joints – actually a marvelous system that both absorbs shocks and lubricates the joints, allowing bones to slide easily against one another. Inspired by the makeup of cartilage, Weizmann Institute of Science researchers have created new kinds of hydrogels that reduce friction tens of times better than existing hydrogels, and which may have a variety of new biomedical applications.

Cartilage 101 – What Is Cartilage and What Does It Do?

Cartilage is the main type of connective tissue seen throughout the body. It serves a variety of structural and functional purposes and exists in different types throughout our joints, bones, spine, lungs, ears and nose.

Cartilage: The three types of cartilage

Hyaline - most common, found in the ribs, nose, larynx, trachea. Is a precursor of bone. Fibro- is found in invertebral discs, joint capsules, ligaments. Elastic - is found in the external ear, epiglottis and larynx.

Chondrocytes

The ones that keep it all together.

Does Cartilage Regenerate on Its Own?

Unlike most tissues in your body, cartilage lacks blood vessels, which makes its regenerative capacity quite limited. While your skin, for instance, can repair itself after a cut or a minor burn, cartilage doesn't have this same ability due to its avascular nature.

Interesting Facts About Cartilage

This essential building block of your body serves a useful purpose. Your body contains three different types of cartilage—hyaline, elastic, and fibrous. Hyaline cartilage, also referred to as articular cartilage, is the type that is most familiar to arthritis patients. Hyaline cartilage is present in the joints, nasal septum, and air tube.

New Frontiers for Cartilage Repair and Protection

Articular cartilage injury is common after athletic injury and remains a difficult treatment conundrum both for the surgeon and athlete. Although recent treatments for damage to articular cartilage have been successful in alleviating symptoms, more durable and complete, long-term articular surface restoration remains the unattained goal.

Print Me An Ear: 3-D Printing Tackles Human Cartilage

An ear, unsurprisingly, is difficult to make from scratch. Ear cartilage is uniquely flexible and strong and has been impossible for scientists to reproduce with synthetic prostheses. If a child is born without one, doctors typically carve a replacement ear out of rib cartilage, but it lacks the wonderfully firm yet springy qualities of the original ear. And it often doesn't look so good. So why not print one?

Promising new bioactive material to regenerate cartilage

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a novel bioactive material that regenerated high-quality cartilage in the knee joints of a sheep model. They observed evidence of improved repair, including the growth of new cartilage containing collagen II and proteoglycans, within six months. In the future, this material could be used to avoid full knee replacement surgeries, treat degenerative diseases and repair sports-related injuries.

Regrowing knee cartilage: new animal studies show promise

In our joints, a slippery, elastic tissue called cartilage covers the ends of the articulating bones. If this protective covering is lost through injury or ageing, it leaves bone grinding painfully against bone. Cartilage injuries are very common and rarely heal spontaneously. This can cause further damage to the joint, leading to osteoarthritis – one the most common type of arthritis and a leading cause of disability worldwide. Between 10% and 15% of all people over the age of 60 have some degree of osteoarthritis. Unfortunately, there is no cure – but help may be on the way.

Researchers find method to regrow cartilage in the joints

In laboratory studies, Stanford School of Medicine researchers have found a way to regenerate the cartilage that eases movement between bones.

Synthetic Materials Can Replace Cartilage in Your Aching Joints

Instead of surgically fusing bones or replacing joints, some doctors are opting to use the new cartilage substitutes.

The Basic Science of Articular Cartilage

Articular cartilage is the highly specialized connective tissue of diarthrodial joints. Its principal function is to provide a smooth, lubricated surface for articulation and to facilitate the transmission of loads with a low frictional coefficient. Articular cartilage is devoid of blood vessels, lymphatics, and nerves and is subject to a harsh biomechanical environment. Most important, articular cartilage has a limited capacity for intrinsic healing and repair. In this regard, the preservation and health of articular cartilage are paramount to joint health.

The Role of Cartilage in Your Body

Hyaline cartilage, also called articular cartilage, covers the bones in your joints where the bones meet. Cartilage is the reason your knee joint moves so smoothly when it’s functioning normally. This cartilage is very smooth, allowing your bones to work very closely together, yet separated by the cartilage.

Why do humans have bones instead of cartilage like sharks?

First, let’s talk about the difference between bone and cartilage. They both are materials that can make up a skeleton, but they are quite different. Bone doesn’t bend. It is very strong, but it’s also brittle and can break with too much pressure. Cartilage is strong, but it is squishier and can bend. Human skeletons are made of bone, but we also have cartilage in our ears and noses and as padding in our joints. In fact, much of our skeleton is cartilage when we are babies, but as we grow it is replaced by bone.

Why Running Won’t Ruin Your Knees

Running pummels knees more than walking does, but in the process it may fortify and bulk up cartilage, helping stave off knee arthritis.

Resources

International Cartilage Regeneration & Joint Preservation Society

The ICRS is the main forum for international collaboration in cartilaginous tissue research. We unite basis scientists, clinical researchers, physicians, and industry members interested in articular biology, its genetic basis, and regenerative medicine.

MyCartilageCare

MyCartilageCare is a support program for MACI-biopsied patients providing insurance approval coordination and treatment information

Osteoarthritis and Cartilage

Osteoarthritis and Cartilage is the official journal of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International. It is an international, multidisciplinary journal that disseminates information for the many kinds of specialists and practitioners concerned with osteoarthritis.

Physiopedia

Cartilage is a non-vascular type of supporting connective tissue that is found throughout the body.

Radiopaedia

Cartilage or cartilaginous tissue is a resilient and type of connective tissue of mesodermal origin that forms an integral part within the musculoskeletal system and as a structural component in other organs. Cartilage can be generally classified into the following main types: hyaline cartilage fibrocartilage elastic cartilage