The surface structure of ageing human articular cartilage: a study by reflected light interference microscopy (RLIM)
Longmore, R.B.; Gardner, D.L.
Journal of Anatomy 126(Pt 2): 353-365
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-8782 PMID: 670068 Document Number: 125152
Subjects [26] were chosen from the age range of 0-47 yr. The irregular (unsmooth) nature of the lateral femoral condyle cartilage surface, was confirmed. Four orders of surface irregularity were found. Age charged in these variables could be considered in 2 phases; a maturation phase (0-21 yr) and an aging phase (22-47 yr). In the former, both surface hollow depth and diameter increased significantly with age (P < 0.01). Surface frequency decreased significantly with age (P < 0.01). In the aging phase only surface frequency altered significantly, displaying a decline; focal changes in the quality of the surface were also observed, increasing in frequency with advancing age. The changes in surface hollow size and frequency in the maturation phase are supposedly due to similar variations in the size and number of underlying chondrocytes. In the aging phase the decline in surface hollow frequency and the increasing microscopic roughness of the surface are seen, indicating regressive changes and possibly representing an early stage in cartilage fibrillation. Regressive changes were recognizable as early as the end of the 2nd decade.