It's no secret that athletes even in good physical shape and at a relatively young age often quit training due to injuries. A large proportion of their problems are bundles. Their weakest part is cartilage. It turns out that the functions of damaged joints can be restored if you pay attention to the problem in time and create suitable conditions for the treatment and regeneration of their cells.
Tissues in the human body
The human body is a complex and flexible system capable of self-regulation. It consists of cells with different structures and functions. In them, the main metabolism occurs. Together with non-cellular structures, they are combined into tissues: epithelial, muscle, nervous, connective.
Epithelial cells form the basis of the skin. They line the internal cavities (abdominal, thoracic, upper respiratory tract, intestinal tract). Muscle tissue allows a person to move. It also provides the movement of internal media in all organs and systems. The muscles are divided into types: smooth (walls of the cavity organs and blood vessels), cardiac, skeletal (striated). Nerve tissue provides transmission of impulses from the brain. Some cells are able to grow and multiply, some of them are capable of regeneration.
Connective tissue is the internal environment of the body. It is different in structure, structure and properties. It consists of strong skeleton bones, subcutaneous fatty tissue, and liquid media: blood and lymph. Cartilage tissue also belongs to it. Its functions are formative, depreciation, support and support. All of them play an important role and are necessary in the complex system of the body.
Cartilage tissue: structure and function
Its characteristic feature is friability in the arrangement of cells. Examining them separately, you can notice how clearly they are separated from each other. The intercellular substance - matrix acts as a ligament between them. Moreover, in different types of cartilage, it is formed in addition to the main amorphous substance by various fibers (elastic and collagen). Although they have a common protein origin, they differ in properties and, depending on this, perform different functions.
All bones of the body formed from cartilage. But as they grew, their intercellular substance was filled with crystals of salts (mainly calcium). As a result, the bones gained strength and became part of the skeleton. Cartilage also performs supporting functions. In the spine, being between the segments, they perceive constant loads (static and dynamic). Auricles, nose, trachea, bronchi - in these areas, the tissue plays a more formative role.
Cartilage growth and nutrition occurs through the perichondrium. It is a mandatory part in tissue, except joints. A synovial fluid is present in them between the rubbing surfaces. She washes, lubricates and nourishes them, removes metabolic products.
Structure
In the cartilage there are few cells capable of division, and a lot of space around them, filled with protein substances of various properties. Because of this feature, regeneration processes often go to a greater extent precisely in the matrix.
Two types of tissue cells are distinguished: hodnrocytes (mature) and chondroblasts (young). They differ in size, location and location. Chondrocytes are rounded and larger. They are arranged in pairs or in groups of up to 10 cells. Chondroblasts are usually smaller and are located on the periphery of the tissue or singly.
Water accumulates in the cytoplasm of cells under the membrane; glycogen inclusions are present. Oxygen and nutrients enter the cells diffusely. There is a synthesis of collagen and elastin. They are necessary for the formation of intercellular substance. It depends on its specificity what type of cartilage tissue it will be. The structural features and functions of the larynx differ from intervertebral discs, including the collagen content. In the auricles, in the cartilage of the nose, the intercellular substance consists of 30% elastin.
Kinds
How is cartilage tissue classified ? Its functions depend on the predominance of specific fibers in the matrix. If there is more elastin in the intercellular substance, then the cartilage tissue will be more plastic. It is almost as strong, but the bundles of fibers in it are thinner. They withstand loads not only in compression, but also in tension, they are capable of deformation without critical consequences. Such cartilage is called elastic. Their tissues form the larynx, auricles, nose.
If the matrix around the cells has a high collagen content with a complex structure for constructing polypeptide chains, such cartilage is called hyaline. It most often covers the internal surfaces of joints. The greatest amount of collagen is concentrated in the surface zone. He plays the role of the frame. The bundles of fibers in it resemble three-dimensional intertwined spiral-shaped networks in structure.
There is another group: fibrous, or fibrous, cartilage. They, like hyaline ones, contain a large amount of collagen in the intercellular substance, but it has a special structure. The bundles of their fibers do not have a complex weave and are located along the axis of the greatest loads. They are thicker, have a special compressive strength, poorly restored during deformation. Intervertebral discs, joints of tendons with bones are formed from such tissue.
Functions
Due to its special biomechanical properties, cartilage tissue is ideally suited for binding components of the musculoskeletal system. It is able to accept the effects of compression and tensile forces during movements, redistribute them evenly to the load, and to some extent absorb or disperse.
Cartilages form abrasion resistant surfaces. In conjunction with synovial fluid, such joints under acceptable loads are capable of performing their functions normally for a long time.
Tendons are not cartilage. Their functions also consist in binding to the general system of the musculoskeletal system. They also consist of bundles of collagen fibers, but their structure and origin are different. Cartilages of the nose, respiratory organs, auricles, in addition to performing the forming and supporting functions, are the place of attachment of soft tissues. But unlike tendons, the muscles next to them do not have such a load.
Special properties
In elastic cartilage there are very few vessels. And this is understandable, because a strong dynamic load can damage them. How does cartilage connective tissue feed? Intercellular substance takes on these functions. In hyaline cartilage there are no vessels at all. Their rubbing surfaces are quite rigid and dense. Their nutrition is carried out due to synovial fluid of the joint.
In the matrix, water moves freely. It contains all the necessary substances for metabolic processes. Proteoglycan components in cartilage perfectly bind water. It as an incompressible substance provides rigidity and additional cushioning. Under loads, water takes over the impact, spreads throughout the intercellular space and smoothly relieves stress, preventing irreversible critical deformations.
Development
In the body of an adult, up to 2% of the mass is accounted for by cartilage. Where is it concentrated and what functions does it perform? Cartilage and bone tissue in the embryonic period does not differentiate. Embryos have no bones. They develop from cartilage and are formed at the time of birth. But part of it does not ossify. From it, ears, nose, larynx, bronchi are formed. It is also present in the joints of the arms and legs, joints of the pubic bones, intervertebral discs, menisci of the knees.
Cartilage development occurs in several stages. First, the mesenchyme cells are saturated with water, rounded, lose their processes and begin to produce substances for the matrix. After this, they are differentiated into chondrocytes and chondroblasts. The first are tightly surrounded by intercellular substance. In this state, they can share a limited number of times. After such processes, an isogenic group is formed. Cells remaining on the surface of the tissue become chondroblasts. In the process of producing the substances of the matrix, the final differentiation takes place, a structure is formed with a distinct division into a thin border and the base of the fabric.
Age changes
The functions of the cartilaginous tissue of a person do not change during life. However, over time, you may notice signs of aging: the muscles and tendons of the joints become weaker, flexibility is lost, the pain is disturbed by the change of weather or with an unusual load. Such a process is considered a physiological norm. By the age of 30-40 years, the symptoms of changes may, to a greater or lesser extent, already begin to cause inconvenience. Aging of articular cartilage tissue occurs due to the loss of its elasticity. The elasticity of the fibers is lost. The fabric dries, loosens.
Cracks appear on a smooth surface, it becomes rough. Smoothness and ease of sliding is no longer possible. Damaged edges grow, deposits form in them, osteophytes form in the tissue. Elastic cartilages age with the accumulation of calcium in the intercellular substance, but this is almost not reflected in their functions (nose, auricles).
Cartilage and bone dysfunction
When and how can this happen? To a large extent, it depends on what function the cartilage tissue performs. In intervertebral discs, the main function of which is stabilizing and supporting, disruption of work most often occurs with the development of degenerative or degenerative processes. The situation can lead to displacements, which, in turn, will result in compression of the surrounding tissue. Inevitable swelling, pinching of nerves, compression of blood vessels.
To restore stability, the body tries to deal with the problem. The vertebra in the place of deformation "adapts" to the situation, grows in the form of peculiar bone outgrowths (mustaches). It also does not benefit the surrounding tissues: again, swelling, pinching, compression. This problem is complex. Disorders of the functioning of the osteochondral apparatus are commonly called osteochondrosis.
Prolonged restriction of movement (gypsum for injuries) also negatively affects cartilage. If, under excessive loads, elastic fibers degenerate into coarse fibrous bundles, then with low activity the cartilage ceases to eat normally. The synovial fluid mixes poorly, chondrocytes lack nutrients, as a result, the required amount of collagen and elastin for the matrix is not produced.
The conclusion suggests itself: for the joints to work properly, the cartilage must receive a sufficient tensile and compression load. To ensure this, you need to exercise, lead a healthy and active lifestyle.