The surface structure of four different articular cartilages of the femoral head was studied with scanning electron microscope in 12 cases of hip joint osteoarthritis. These articular cartilages were mink white, yellow, dusky red and hyperplastic and thickened. The osteoarthritic articular cartilage surface was uneven with puckerings of various height, width and orientation. The puckerings were covered with fibril network. The fibrils were exposed collagen fibrils and of different diameters. Wider fiber bundles without orientation were found on the fibril network. On the surface of the hyperplastic articular cartilage observed were many deep and oval spaces left behind after breakdown of the lacunae of cells in the clusters of articular chondrocytes. In the spaces, remnants of articular chondrocytes were seen.

作者：Chai Ben-fu；Tang Xue-ming

来源：CHINESE MEDICAL JOURNAL 1990 年 103卷 4期