Microscopic and macroscopic anatomical features in healthy and osteoarthritic knee cartilage

IntroductionWe illustrated the anatomical aspect of the cartilage in healthy and osteoarthritic knee joint. Osteoarthritis is a disease of high ethical and economical importance. In advanced stages, the patients suffer from severe pain and restriction of mobility, even the inability to work.MethodThe literature search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar using appropriate keywords in relation to the anatomical aspect of knee osteoarthritis. DiscussionAdult articular cartilage has a low capacity to repair itself, and thus even minor injuries may lead to progressive damage and osteoarthritic joint degeneration, resulting in significant pain and disability. Numerous studies on human osteoarthritic tissue and in animal models have addressed the microscopic and macroscopic anatomical aspects of OA progression to get a better understanding of the pathophysiology of this disease. Further, imaging studies show the macroscopic anatomical changes and are important for the diagnosis of this disease.Conclusion In this mini review we described the current knowledge about the macroscopic and microscopic anatomical features in healthy and osteoarthritic knee cartilage.Further “in vivo” and “in vitro” studies must be carried out in order to improve the early diagnosis and the treatment of articular cartilage defects leading to a better clinical outcome for the patients affected.