Abstract
Thein vitro surface characteristics of articular cartilage were assessed by light and scanning electron microscopy and by profile measurement of their replicated contours. Both wet and dehydrated articular surfaces contained arrays of 20–40 μm diameter depressions which were similar in shape, magnitude and frequency to the underlying cell lacunae. While there were limitations attached to the replication and profile-measurement techniques, the results indicated that wet articular surfaces contained depressions which were 0.2–5.0 μm deep and were superimposed on undulations of approximately 600 μm pitch and 3–4 μm amplitude. As yet, no quantitative work has been conductedin vivo to determine the articular contours of the living joint. Since there is some uncertainty as to whether thein vivo articular contours contain arrays of depressions or similarly shaped humps, we do not yet have any reliable data on the degree of irregularity of thein vivo articular surface topography.
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Clarke, L.C. The microevaluation of articular surface contours. Ann Biomed Eng 1, 31–43 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02363416
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02363416