Equi Vision plus

23/05/2024

20/04/2024

Look at the glistening hyaline cartilage in this partial stifle joint (femur and patella). This is a particularly good example of a healthy joint. Which happens to be a ex standardbred racehorse. I’ve not seen such a great joint surface such as this in the past 28 whole horse dissections I’ve carried out.

Did you know that this cartilage has a low density of living cells. There is only 10% of cells per volume of cartilage and they are known as chondrocytes. These cells are embedded in a matrix (think of a stiff jelly) of collagen fibrils, proteoglycans and water! Water makes up 70% of the cartilage by volume. So it is literally cells suspended in a stiff jelly.

Did you know that generally there are no blood vessels or nerves in hyaline cartilage. Nutrition to the cells is by diffusion. This makes it difficult for the tissue to recover if it is damaged. Collagen and proteoglycans can be replaced but the important microstructure of the cartilage is lost and leads to permanent damage

Locomotion and loading is what is needed to keep the cartilage healthy. But not too much.

The key to a healthy joint cartilage is prevention of injury.
Careful exercise built up over time to strengthen all tissue including cartilage.

Ref AAEP proceedings vol 55 2009

16/02/2024