Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Tissue Collection and RNA Extraction from the Human Osteoarthritic Knee Joint
Published on: July 22, 2021
Studying the Natural History of the Knee Joint
Kellen L Mulford1, Marisa Ulrich, Sami Saniei
1From the Orthopedic Surgery Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (Dr. Mulford, Dr. Ulrich, Dr. Saniei, Dr. Wyles), Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, and the Mayo Clinic Department of Orthopedic Surgery (Dr. Wyles, Dr. Ulrich), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
Abstract:
By the time the orthopaedic surgeon sees a patient with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, the disease has already progressed to an advanced stage. As a result, studying the full natural history of the knee is especially difficult. A few large longitudinal cohorts, the Osteoarthritis Initiative and Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study in particular, provide the bulk of the data for most extant studies. In this review, we report on the current state of knowledge regarding the study of the natural history of the knee, including the difficulties of natural history research, the tools used to assess knee osteoarthritis, the major longitudinal studies in knee osteoarthritis, and the ability of early interventions to modify natural history. In addition, we will preview what is possible using artificial intelligence and newer large longitudinal cohorts.
Related Concept Videos
Knee Joint
A total of seven ligaments support the knee joint. The patellar ligament, which is also attached to the quadriceps femoris group...
Bones of the Lower Limb: Femur and Patella
Development of the Limb Synovial Joints
The mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into chondrocytes that form the hyaline cartilage, and later the cartilaginous model of the bone. This model further transforms into a bone. This process is known as endochondral ossification.
During development, the limbs...
Muscles that Move the Leg
Anterior Compartment
The quadriceps femoris, the most visible muscle of the anterior compartment, is integral for leg extension and thigh flexion. It is formed by merging four distinct muscles — the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, and rectus femoris. The quadriceps tendon, a shared tendon of the four quadriceps muscles, is affixed to...
