On the functional organisation of hyaline articular cartilage

Function of agonists and antagonists and the centering effect of the muscles on the connected joint result in constant changes of the site of load. Based on a model it is assumed that chondric cells organise in form of "functional units" within the single layers of the hyaline tectorial cartilage. In each case a small number of those units is subject to the rhythm of load and relief in a fixed period of time given. After 24-hour-culture of small pieces of cartilage in Ham's F-10 medium erected cilia are found on the predominantly ciliated chondrocytes with this indicating relief of pressure. In these cells massive glycogen synthesis and an active Golgi apparatus are present. In parallel, chondrones are found in which cellular contact functions via a cilium. Time-dependent glycogen occurs in these cells too. Cells having almost the same synthesis time course of the glycogen join up to form "functional units", which are particularly involved in the biomechanic cartilage behavior in the radiar cell zone.