Phase 1 - Week 5 (Bones, Cartilage, Osteoarthritis), Phase 2 - Week 4 + 6 (Synovial Joints, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Wrist + Hand, Hip + Knee, Fractures) Flashcards
Where is the diaphysis of a long bone?
The central shaft
Where is the epiphysis of a long bone?
The regions at either end of the bone
Epiphyseal plate of a long bone
Present in growing bones, between the diaphysis and epiphyses. Also called growth plate. Growth in length of the bone is the result of deposition of new cartilage at the epiphyseal plate and subsequent mineralisation.
Where is the metaphysis of a long bone?
Adjacent to the epiphyseal plate, at the growing end of the diaphysis
What is the epiphyseal line?
After puberty the epiphyseal plate becomes fully calcified and remains as the epiphyseal line
Periosteum
Covers the surface of bones, consists of an outer layer of tough fibrous connective tissue and an inner layer of osteogenic tissue
Medullary cavity
Space running through the centre of bone, lined with osteogenic tissue (endosteum). Contains fatty yellow marrow - not involved in haematopoiesis
Where is red bone marrow located and what is its function?
Found in small, flat and irregular bones and the epiphysis of long bones. Contains haematopoietic tissue which produces blood cells
Describe the blood supply to long bones
- Nutrient artery - splits into ascending/descending medullary artery
- Periosteal arteries - outside of bone
- Metaphyseal arteries + epiphyseal arteries supplied by the nutrient artery
List the types of bone tissue
- Compact (dense/cortical)
2. Spongey (trabecular/cancellous)
Where is cortical bone located?
- Outer region of all bones
- Diaphysis of long bones
- Outer and inner regions of flat bones
What is the function of cortical bone?
Few spaces, provides protection + support especially to long bones - reduce the stress of weight bearing
What are the functional units of cortical bone?
Osteons
Describe the structure of osteons
- Central canal containing blood vessels, lymphatics + nerves
- Surrounded by rings of intercellular substance (lamellae) with spaces (lacunae) between containing osteocytes (mature bone cells)
- Tiny canals (canaliculi) radiate from lacunae forming a branching network by which nutrients/waste products are transported to and from the osteocytes
Describe the structure of trabecular bone
- Irregular lattice of thin plates of bone called trabeculae between which there are large spaces filled with bone marrow
- Lacunae containing osteocytes within the trabeculae
- Osteocytes are nourished directly by blood circulation through marrow cavities from blood vessels penetrating spongey bone from the periosteum
Where is trabecular bone located?
Epiphysis of long bones, most of short, flat and irregular bones
List the types of bone cells
- Osteoblasts
- Osteocytes
- Osteoclasts
Give the progenitor cells for osteoblasts, osteocytes and osteoclasts
Osteoblasts - osteoprogenitor cells
Osteocytes - osteoblasts
Osteoclasts - mononuclear phagocytic cells
Where are osteoblasts found?
Surface of all bones, line the internal marrow cavities
How is the structure of osteoblasts specialised for their function?
Contain numerous mitochondria and golgi apparatus for rapid protein synthesis
What is the function of osteoblasts?
Secrete the constituents of osteoid - the organic matrix of the bone - collagen, proteoglycans + glycoproteins. Important in the process of mineralisation of the matrix
Which hormones regulate the activity of osteoblasts
Parathyroid hormone and calcitriol
Where are osteocytes located?
Trapped in lacunae within the matrix
Describe the function of osteoclasts
- Giant multinucleated cells
- Highly mobile
- Responsible for resorption of bone during growth and skeletal remodelling
- Bone resorption through the action of collagenase, lysosomal enzymes and acid phosphatase
Where are osteoclasts located?
Abundant at surfaces of bone undergoing erosion. At site of contact with bone, highly folded ‘ruffled border’ of microvilli that infiltrates the disintegrating bone surface.
What are the products of bone dissolution and where are they released?
Calcium, phosphate and bone matrix constituents are released into the extracellular fluid
Which hormones control the activity of osteoclasts?
Parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, thyroxine, oestrogen + metabolites of vitamin D
Describe the main functions of bone
- Protection and structural support
- Attachment for muscles, tendons + ligaments allowing movement by means of articulation (joints)
- Homeostasis of minerals (calcium + phosphate)
- Forming blood cells - haematopoietic tissue in red bone marrow in short, flat and irregular bones
Where does the nutrient artery enter the bone?
Nutrient foramen
Volkmann’s canals
Transfer blood from periosteum to central canals of osteons
List the types of joints by structural classification
- Fibrous joints
- Cartilaginous joints
- Synovial joints
Describe the structure of fibrous joints
- Predominantly synarthroses
- Held together by fibrous connective tissue
- No space between bones - immovable
List the types of fibrous joints
- Sutures
- Syndesmoses
- Gomphoses
Suture joints
- In skull
- Short fibres of connective tissue hold bones tightly in place
Syndesmosis joints
- Bones connected by band of connective tissue
- Small amount of movement depending on length of fibres
- E.g. joint of tibia and fibula in ankle
Gomphosis joints
- Between teeth and sockets
- Connected into socket by connective tissue called periodontal ligament
Describe the structure of cartilaginous joints
- Predominantly amphiarthroses
- Bones connected by cartilage
- Slight movement
List the types of cartilaginous joints
- Synchondroses
2. Symphyses
Synchondrosis joints
- Bones joined by hyaline cartilage
- In epiphyseal plates of growing children
Symphysis joints
- Hyaline cartilage covers end of bone but connection between bones is fibrocartilage
- Joints between vertebrae, pubic symphysis
Describe the structure of synovial joints
- Predominantly diarthroses
- Have space between bones - synovial cavity, filled with synovial fluid
- Synovial fluid lubricates joints, reduces friction between the bones and allows greater movement
- Ends of bones covered with articular cartilage (hyaline cartilage)
List the types of movement possible at synovial joints
- Gliding (flat bone surfaces) e.g. carpal and tarsal
- Angular - flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, circumduction
- Rotational - medial or lateral
- Special - inversion, eversion, protraction, retraction, elevation, depression etc.
Describe the structure of the articular capsule of synovial joints
- Articular capsule is fibrous and continuous with periosteum of articulating bones
- Articular capsule consists of two layers - outer fibrous membrane, may contain ligaments and inner synovial membrane that secretes the synovial fluid
What is the function of synovial fluid?
Lubricating, shock-absorbing, joint nourishing
List the components of synovial fluid
- Blood monocytes
- Hyaluronic acid
- Lubricin
- Proteinases
- Collagenases
What is the synovial membrane?
Soft tissue between articular capsule and joint cavity of synovial joints
Describe the structure of the synovial membrane
2 layers
- Outer layer or subintima - fibrous, fatty or loosely areolar
- Inner layer or intime - thin sheet of cells
How are synovial joints stabilised?
Ligaments around the joint allow less movement making the joint stronger and less susceptible to injury
List the types of synovial joint
- Pivot - between C1/C2 vertebrae
- Hinge joint - elbow
- Saddle joint - trapezium carpal bone-1st metacarpal bone
- Plane joint - between tarsal bones
- Ball + socket - hip joint
- Codyloid joint - radius-carpal bones of wrist
List the structural classifications of types of cartilage
- Hyaline cartilage
- Fibrocartilage
- Elastic cartilage
Describe the production of cartilage
- Mesenchymal cells differentiate into chondroblasts which produce cartilage
- Chondroblasts grow and begin synthesis of proteoglycan ground substance and fibrous extracellular matrix
- Chondroblasts develop into chondrocytes (mature cartilage cells)
Perichondrium
- A layer surrounding mature cartilage masses
- Composed of collagen fibres and spindle shaped cells resembling fibroblasts
- Also contains capillaries from which nutrients diffuse into the cartilage matrix
Which types of cartilage have/do not have a perichondrium
Hyaline and elastic cartilage has a perichondrium, articular hyaline and fibrocartilage do not have a perichonidrium
What is consequence of cartilage not possessing a perichondrium?
Cannot regenerate after damage - poor blood supply
How are metabolites transferred between chondrocytes and the surrounding tissues?
- Through diffusion through the water of the ground substance
- This limits the thickness of cartilage - thick areas need cartilage canals to allow small vessels into centre of cartilage of cartilage mass
Where is hyaline cartilage found?
- On articular surfaces of joints - over surface of bone ends
- Nasal septum
- Tracheal rings
- Sternal ends of ribs
Describe the macrostructure of hyaline cartilage
Characterised by small aggregates of chondrocytes embedded in amorphous matrix of ground substance, reinforced by collagen fibres
Where is fibrocartilage found?
In intervertebral discs, pubic symphysis, ligaments, connections of tendons to bones
Describe the macrostructure of fibrocartilage
- Resembles dense connective tissue, very abundant collagen fibres with intervening bands of ECM
- Alternating layers of hyaline cartilage matrix with thick layers of dense collagen fibres, orientated in direction of the functional stress
Where is elastic cartilage found?
External ear, larynx, epiglottis, walls of Eustachian tubes
Describe the macrostructure of elastic cartilage
- Firm but flexible due to elastin fibres within ECM similar to hyaline cartilage
- Elasticity from bundles of branching elastin fibres in cartilage matrix
Describe the microstructure of hyaline cartilage
Matrix of chondroitin sulphate into which many fine collagen fibrils are embedded, contains numerous chondrocytes
Explain the function of hyaline cartilage
- Provides smooth surfaces enabling movement/sliding of tissues over each other e.g. at joints
- Provides flexibility and support
Describe the microstructure of fibrocartilage
- Tough cartilage - chondrocytes scattered among visible dense bundles of collagen fibres within the matrix
Explain the function of fibrocartilage
- Provides support and rigidity to attached/surrounding structures
- Strongest type of cartilage
Describe the microstructure of elastic cartilage
Chondrocytes located in a threadlike network of elastic fibres within the matrix
Explain the function of elastic cartilage
Provides support to surrounding structures, helps define + maintain the shape of the area, e.g. external ear
Define osteoarthritis
Progressive disorder of the joints caused by gradual loss of cartilage and resulting in the development of bony spurs and cysts at the margins of the joints
Describe the features of an osteoarthritic joint
- Thickened capsule - synovial hypertrophy
- Cyst formation and sclerosis
- ‘Shelving’ - fibrillated cartilage
- Osteophytic lipping
- Altered contour of bone
- Cartilage erosion down to subchondral bone
Describe the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis
- Decrease in water content
- Decrease in proteoglycan synthesis
- Increase in collagen x-linking
- Traumatic damage
Which joints are most commonly affected by osteoarthritis?
Weight bearing joints e.g. knees/hips and hands
List and describe the types of osteoarthritis
- Primary - degenerative disorder
2. Secondary - due to trauma, hip dysplasia, infection or diabetes
List the risk factors associated with development of osteoarthritis
- Age - <45
- Genetics
- Gender - <50 men at higher risk, >50 women at higher risk
- Nutritional - low Vitamin C/D intake
- Joint trauma
- Obesity
- Occupation
- Abnormal joint biomechanics e.g. hip dysplasia
- Knee extensor weakness
- Sports w/ joint risk
List the symptoms associated with osteoarthritis
- Pain, especially when doing load-bearing activities e.g. walking
- Short lived stiffness in the morning - improves in 30 mins or less
- Difficulty moving affected joints
- Swelling
Describe the features found when taking a clinical history which would indicate osteoarthritis
- Pain
- Decreased walking distance
- Sleep disturbance
- Limp - Trendelenburg sign
- Stiffness
Describe the typical features seen on X-Rays of osteoarthritic joints which are used in diagnosis of the disease
- Joint space narrowing
- Osteophytes - ossifying cartilaginous protrusions lead to irregular outgrowth of new bone
- Fragmentation of osteophytesor articular cartilage results in presence of intra-articular loss bodies (joint mice)
- Subchondral sclerosis
- Cyst formation
Explain the general aims of management of osteoarthritis
- Symptoms of osteoarthritis progress slowly over many years
- There is no cure for osteoarthritis
- Treatment is directed at symptom management/slowing progress of condition
- Goals include reducing pain, increasing range of motion and increasing muscle strength
List the non-operative treatments used to manage osteoarthritis
- Medications
- Physiotherapy
- Walking aids
- Joint injections
Describe how medication can be used to manage osteoarthritis
- Pain management - paracetamol, NSAIDs
- Alternative medication - glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate
Describe how physiotherapy can be used to manage osteoarthritis
- Exercises to improve range of motion
- Muscle strengthening
- Aerobic condition
- Weight loss
Describe how walking aids can be used to manage osteoarthritis
- Particularly used for osteoarthritic hips
- Transfer load to unaffected side
- Reduces load on hip by 40%
Describe how joint injections can be used to manage osteoarthritis
- Cortisone/corticosteroid
- Reduce inflammation response around joint
- More rapid effect than NSAIDS
- Viscous supplement - replace midified synovial fluid in joints
- Increase viscosity + elasticity of fluid
List the surgical treatments used to manage osteoarthritis
- Arthroscopy
- Cartilage transplantation
- Joint transplantation
Describe how arthroscopy is used to manage osteoarthritis
- Keyhole
- Debridement of articular cartilage
Describe how cartilage/joint transplantation is used to manage osteoarthritis
- Remove worn cartilage and replace with cartilage from other joints/synthetic material
- Remove whole of joint + replace with synthetic material
- Pain relief and increase in range of motion
- Improve activities of daily living
What is the extracellular matrix (ECM)
- The acellular component of supporting/connective tissue
- Complex network of proteins and ploysaccharides
- Secreted locally by cells and remain closely associated with them
- Provides structural, adhesive and biochemical signalling support
Where is ECM found?
- Bone
- Tendon
- Cartilage
- BV walls
- Subcutaneous fat
- Vitreous body of the eye
- Cornea
- Dermal layer of skin
- Basement membrane