Lame - Joint pathology Flashcards
What are 3 types of joints in the body?
Fibrous joints
Cartilaginous joints
Synovial joints
What are the three main components of synovial joints?
Joint cartilage
Joint capsule
Subchondral bone
What does cartilage outside of synovial joints rely on for providing nutrients and new chondrocytes?
Perichondrium
What is different about joint cartilage in synovial joints to normal cartilage?
It has no perichondrium so relies on alternating compression ad release of normal weight bearing to help the diffusion of fluid with nutrients and waste products into and out of the cartilage
What can cause cartilage atrophy?
Constant static weight bearing
Lack of weight bearing
What affects joint cartilage healing?
Lack of blood supply
Where can inflammation in the synovial joint arise from?
The synovium or the subchondral bone
Subarticular growth cartilage of the epiphysis in young animals
Not the joint cartilage - lack of vasculature means no inflammatory response
Where can pain originate from in the synovial joint?
Synovium and subchondral bone
Similar to inflammation - no nerves in joint cartilage so no pain
What creates the cartilage matrix?
Chondroblasts
What is the cartilage matrix made up of?
Collagen
Elastin fibres
Hyaluronic acid
Proteoglycans
What gives cartilage its stiffness?
Bonds between collagen and elastin and glycosaminoglycans
What gives cartilage its shock absorbing ability?
The water molecules in the matrix - if water retention is affected then cartilage integrity is affected
How can cartilage be damaged?
Chondrocyte damage
Enzymes produced by inflammatory cells penetrating the matrix and degrading the collagen and proteoglycans
What happens to the appearance of cartilage when its matrix is compromised?
Dehydrates, shrivels, turns dull yellow/brown
Eventually erodes away and exposes the subchondral bone
What is ankylosis?
Fusion of joint surfaces
What makes up the surface of the joint capsule?
Villi
What are the villi in the joint capsule covered by?
The synovial lining
What is the synovial lining made up of? What function do they have?
Synovial A cells - clear debris from synovial fluid
Synovial B cells - Produce components that make synovial fluid viscous and lubricating
What are the three synovial responses to injury?
Villous hypertrophy and hyperplasia
Synovial cell hypertrophy and hyperplasia
Pannus formation
Which synovial responses to injury are accompanied by inflammation (synovitis)?
Villous hypertrophy and hyperplasia
Synovial cell hypertrophy and hyperplasia
What are the consequences of synovitis?
Impaired joint fluid drainage
Compromised fluid lubricating properties - B cells secrete other substances instead when there is inflammation
What cells release inflammatory mediators into the synovial fluid?
Mononuclear cells
Synovial A cells