title: [Structure of the articular cartilage in the middle aged].
abstract: In persons 17-83 years of age having no articular disorders 39 samples of the patellar articular cartilage, the articulated surface and the femoral head have been studied histochemically, histometrically and electron microscopically. Age involution of the articular cartilage is revealed after 40 years of age as a progressive decrease in chondrocytes density in the superficial and (to a less degree) in the intermediate zones. This is accompanied with a decreasing number of 3- and 4-cellular lacunae and with an increasing number of unicellular and hollow lacunae. In some chondrocytes certain distrophic and necrotic changes are revealed. In the articular matrix the zone with the minimal content of glycosaminoglycans becomes thicker and keratansulfate content in the territorial matrix of the cartilage deep zone grows large.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D006621:Hip Joint; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis
chemical_list: D006025:Glycosaminoglycans
vernacular_title: Struktura sustavnogo khriashcha u lits pozhilogo vozrasta.