Often described as Wear and tear , osteorathritis, involves a complex degeneration of the joints. In fact the main problem in osteorathritis is the degeneration of the articular cartilage that covers the joint.
Articular cartilage has no blood supply.
It derives nutrition from the synovial fluid, a lubricant produced by lining sinovial membrane and through diffusion of nutrients from underlying cavellous bone. As the disease worsens the cartilage may become baldly workout, cracks and fissures start appearing and the cartilage become thin and dry. Eventually the bones start rubbing against each other and he ligaments become strained and weakened. Osteorathritis is limited to the joints and does not cause any systemic symptoms. The areas of the body most often affected by osteorathritis are the hip, knee, fingers, feet and spine.