Cartilage & Joint-Specific Topics – Anatomy, Function, and Clinical Importance

Cartilage is a specialized connective tissue that plays a crucial role in joint movement, flexibility, and shock absorption. In the human body, different types of cartilage are present in various joints, each serving a unique function. Understanding joint-specific cartilage anatomy is especially important for radiology professionals, orthopedicians, and healthcare students.

This article explains cartilage anatomy and clinical relevance in major joints, including the knee, hip, shoulder, ankle, spine, TMJ, and costal region.

1. Knee Cartilage Anatomy (Meniscus vs Articular Cartilage)

The knee joint contains two major types of cartilage:

Meniscus

Crescent-shaped fibrocartilage
Medial and lateral meniscus
Acts as a shock absorber
Improves joint stability
Common injuries: meniscal tears, degeneration

Articular Cartilage

Smooth hyaline cartilage
Covers femur, tibia, and patella surfaces
Reduces friction during movement
Damage leads to osteoarthritis

🔍 MRI Importance: MRI is the gold standard for evaluating meniscal tears and cartilage defects.

2. Hip Joint Cartilage – Anatomy & Function

The hip is a ball-and-socket joint with excellent stability.

Articular Cartilage

Covers femoral head and acetabulum
Ensures smooth, pain-free motion

Acetabular Labrum

Fibrocartilage ring
Deepens the socket
Improves joint stability

⚠️ Clinical Conditions

Cartilage thinning
Labral tears
Osteoarthritis
Avascular necrosis (AVN)

📌 MRI Arthrography is useful for labral assessment.

3. Shoulder Joint Cartilage and Labrum

The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body.

Articular Cartilage

Covers humeral head and glenoid cavity
Allows wide range of motion

Glenoid Labrum

Fibrocartilage rim
Increases joint depth
Stabilizes shoulder

🩺 Common Injuries

Labral tears (Bankart, SLAP lesions)
Cartilage wear in arthritis

🎯 MRI Shoulder is ideal for labral and cartilage evaluation.

4. Ankle Cartilage Injuries

The ankle joint bears maximum body weight.

Articular Cartilage

Covers talus, tibia, and fibula
Thin but highly durable

🚑 Common Conditions

Osteochondral defect (OCD) of talus
Post-traumatic cartilage injury
Ankle arthritis

📸 MRI detects early cartilage damage not visible on X-ray.

5. Cartilage of the Spine (Intervertebral Disc)

The spine contains fibrocartilage in intervertebral discs.

Disc Components

Annulus fibrosus (outer fibrocartilage)
Nucleus pulposus (inner gel-like core)

🧠 Functions

Shock absorption
Spinal flexibility

⚠️ Clinical Problems

Disc degeneration
Disc bulge
Disc herniation

🩻 MRI Spine is the investigation of choice.

6. TMJ Cartilage Disorders

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is unique.

TMJ Disc

Fibrocartilage
Located between mandibular condyle and temporal bone

😬 Common Disorders

Disc displacement
TMJ arthritis
Jaw pain and clicking

📌 MRI TMJ evaluates disc position and joint inflammation.

7. Costal Cartilage – Anatomy & Clinical Importance

Costal cartilage connects ribs to the sternum.

Functions

Provides flexibility to chest wall
Allows expansion during breathing

🩺 Clinical Importance

Costochondritis (chest pain)
Trauma and fractures
Age-related calcification (visible on X-ray/CT)

🩻 Imaging: X-ray, CT, and sometimes MRI.

Conclusion

Cartilage health is essential for smooth joint movement and overall mobility. Damage to joint-specific cartilage can lead to pain, stiffness, and disability. MRI plays a vital role in early diagnosis and management of cartilage-related disorders.

For radiology professionals and students, understanding cartilage anatomy across different joints improves image interpretation and clinical correlation.

Monday, December 22, 2025