[Age-related changes in systematic inhomogeneities of articular cartilage]

We have considered the question of the quantification of differentiation processes. We investigated articular cartilage of the Caput femoris in 22 cases aged from 0 to 77 years. We measured cell size and volume density. During aging a shifting of the layer with the maximum cell size in relation to the joint surface as well as the formation of two layers with different volume densities take place. We believe that the changes in nutritional and load conditions during life play a role in these processes. We describe these with the term "diversification", characterizing the process of the changing of the degree of structural order.