Articular cartilage
Also called: joint cartilage
What it means
Articular cartilage is the smooth tissue covering the ends of bones in a joint, cushioning movement and letting bones glide without friction.
Healthy joints let you move and exercise comfortably, which supports the weight-bearing activity your bones need to stay strong.
Articular cartilage is the smooth, slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones where they meet inside a joint, like the hip, knee, or shoulder. It acts as a cushion and a near-frictionless surface, letting bones glide against each other during movement instead of grinding directly on one another.
Unlike regular bone, articular cartilage has no blood supply of its own, so it heals slowly when damaged. Over time or with repeated stress, it can wear thin, which is a hallmark of osteoarthritis. This is different from osteoporosis, which affects bone density rather than joint surfaces, though both become more common with age.
Keeping muscles strong around a joint and maintaining healthy movement patterns can help support joint function, but cartilage health and bone density are managed differently. If you have joint pain or stiffness, it's worth discussing with your doctor, since joint and bone issues sometimes overlap but need different approaches.
Smooth cartilage lets joints move freely, supporting the weight-bearing activity your bones need to stay strong.
Where this leads
WordWondering what happens when this cushioning wears down? Osteoarthritis can bring joint pain that affects your exercise choices and bone scan accuracy.
Related words
Osteoarthritis is a common joint disease where cartilage breaks down over time, causing pain and stiffness in joints…
Subchondral bone is the layer of bone directly under the cartilage in your joints, helping cushion and support the…
The hip joint is the ball-and-socket joint where the thigh bone meets the pelvis, letting the leg move freely while…
Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is the natural wearing down of the cushion-like discs between your spine bones…
Bone remodeling is the lifelong cycle where cells called osteoclasts remove old bone and osteoblasts build new bone…
Education only, not medical advice. Decisions about tests, medications and treatment belong with your own doctor. OsteoStrong does not diagnose, treat or cure any disease.
