Cartilage
Firm, smooth connective tissue that cushions joints and forms structures such as the nose and ear.
What it means
Cartilage is a firm but flexible connective tissue. Articular cartilage covers the ends of bones within joints, providing an almost frictionless surface and distributing load.
Cartilage has no blood supply of its own. It obtains nutrients from joint fluid, which is driven in and out by movement and loading — the physiological reason that activity is beneficial to joints and prolonged rest is not.
The same absence of blood supply means cartilage heals slowly and often incompletely.
In practice
The meniscus is the cartilage disc within the knee; meniscal tears are among the commonest knee injuries.
Loss of articular cartilage produces the joint space narrowing described on X-ray reports in osteoarthritis.
Why it matters
Cartilage loss is central to osteoarthritis, but the degree seen on imaging correlates poorly with pain.
Strengthening the muscles around a joint improves function irrespective of how much cartilage remains, which is why exercise outperforms medication in osteoarthritis.
Clinically reviewed by Dr Mohammad Zubair Khan, GMC 7563469
Last reviewed
August 30, 2026