Articular cartilage surface

The articular cartilage surface is the outermost layer of cartilage at the interface of synovial joints, comprised mainly of hyaline cartilage. It includes a specialized extracellular matrix rich in type II collagen, proteoglycans (notably aggrecan), and glycoproteins such as lubricin. This surface enables frictionless movement of joints, absorbs mechanical stress, and protects the underlying bone. It contains no blood vessels, nerves, or lymphatics, making its healing capacity limited. The integrity of the cartilage surface is vital for normal joint function; damage or degradation leads to conditions such as osteoarthritis and joint pain.

Other names

Articular surfacecartilage surfacejoint surface