ABSTRACT
Cartilage problems and osteoarthritis (OA) are extremely common. It is vital that the primary care provider understand the basics of the anatomy and physiology of cartilage in order to better inform the patient of realistic diagnostic and treatment options available to them. The apophyseal articular cartilage and its role in decreasing friction and distributing loads across major diarthrodial joints such as the hips and knees will be the focus of this chapter in addition to the discussion on the properties of meniscal brocartilage. Injury to diarthrodial articular cartilage is very common affecting approximately 900,000 Americans annually and results in over 200,000 surgical procedures (Table 9.1).17
