MOSAICISM OF HYALINE CARTILAGE: QUANTITATIVE MORPHOLOGICAL STUDY ON RABBIT ELBOW JOINT

To study the heterogenecity of hyaline cartilage we have analyzed the tissues of elbow joint received from six intact Chinchilla rabbits. Classic histological assays, step-by-step scanning, and quantitative morphological analysis were performed. The revealed phenomenon at least concluded in an available of mosaic plots (microclusters), different from the environment of the numerical density of chondrocytes, structure and optical density of cartilage matrix. These microclusters took up to 40% of cartilage volume, they could be described as a polygon truncated pyramids with a diameter cross section about 60-100 microns near the basophil line and extending to 100-150 microns by superficial zone of the cartilage. The revealed phenomenon was matched to the biomechanics of the joints to provide for optimal redistribution of static and dynamic loads on the articular surface.