The morphology of the surface of artcular cartilage in adult rats

Abstract

Articular cartilage from the weight-bearing area of the femoral concyles in adult rats is smooth in the normal, non-weight-bearing condition, showing none of the surface irregularities (8-15 micrometer) reported by previous authors. Demonstrable changes in the surface characteristics of articular cartilage may be attributable to preparation procedures. The normal smoothness observed in TEM studies has been confirmed by an SEM method. 'Quarternary ridges' described as evidence of ageing may be analogous to 'wrinkles' observed on the surface cartilage exposed to ambient atmospheric conditions.