Fluid transport in cartilage.

Creep in cartilage is in quantitative agreement with fluid loss. The hydraulic permeability decreases steeply and the internal pressure increases as the fluid content of cartilage is reduced due to compressive loading. At any given water content the hydraulic permeability and the internal pressure are practically independent of the applied load. The ionic contribution to the osmotic pressure of femoral head cartilage has been found by a number of methods to be around 1 x 7 atm at full hydration.