Abstract
Cartilage is a resilient, tough, connective tissue whose main functions are mechanical. It is rigid enough to provide structural support for tissues such as the ear, nose and larynx. Articular cartilage, found in skeletal joints is more deformable than bone, and is thus able to distribute the load and protect bone from mechanical forces and provide a low friction surface for articulating joints. In the spine, the cartilaginous intervertebral discs, as well as cushioning the vertebral bodies, impart flexibility to the spinal column, enabling it to bend and twist. The components of cartilage are made by the cartilage cells, the chondrocytes. In weight-bearing cartilages, these cells are subjected to an environment which can be dramatically altered by mechanical forces. This chapter describes the effects of mechanical stress on the osmotic environment of the chondrocyte, and shows how the metabolism of the cell is affected by these changes to the extracellular osmolarity.
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Urban, J.P.G., Hall, A. (1992). Changes in Cartilage Osmotic Pressure in Response to Loads and their Effects on Chondrocyte Metabolism. In: Karalis, T.K. (eds) Mechanics of Swelling. NATO ASI Series, vol 64. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-84619-9_29
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-84619-9_29
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