Cartilage, ligament, & tendon biology

chondrocytes are highly mechanosensitive

describe hyaline cartilage

most common, found in articular cartilage (ends of long bone); composition and structural orientation help resist compressive and frictional forces

describe fibrocartilage

toughest cartilage (high collagen content) found in intervertebral discs, pubic symphysis, menisci of the knee

describe elastic cartilage

most flexible type (high elastin content) found in the ear, throat and eustachian tube

describe chondrocytes

maintain extracellular matrix

describe chondroblasts

immature chondrocytes reside on the periphery of the tissue

describe ligaments

attach bone to bone, stabilize joints, allow movement in desired direction, prevent dislocation, poor blood supply, relatively good nerve supply, dense fibrous bundles of collahenous fibers and spindle-shaped cells (fibrocytes)

describe fibroblasts

synthesize and maintain collagen, elastin, proteoglycans and other ECM components; aligned in parallel with tensile load

describe fibrocytes

contribute to baseline ECM maintenance

describe a sprain

yield point to failure

describe a rupture

past the failure point

describe a tendon

connects muscle to bone, mechanical bridge, transmits force, scarce nerve supply, blood and lymph supply

describe tenocytes

elongated fibroblast like cell that aligns parallel to the axis of loading

describe tenoblasts

immature metabolically active precursor cells to tenocytes

describe the Muscle-Tendon Junction

a critical structure for health and performance; the anatomical site where the highly compliant muscle meets non-compliant tendon; is the most common site of muscle strain injuries

what is Youngs Modulus

its the stiffness of a given material and is independent of the amount of material

what are factors of tendons & load

behavior is related to shape and magnitude of tension applied, adaptation is stress specific, sex specific differences, reduced adaptation in aging