The collagenous architecture of articular cartilage. Correlation of scanning electron microscopy and polarized light microscopy observations.

The localization and directional orientation of collagen fibers in articular cartilage is demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy and polarized light microscopy. Vertical sections of articular cartilage show different directional orientations of collagen fibers through all zones of cartilage depending upon whether the sections are parallel or perpendicular to the cleft pattern produced when the surface of articular cartilage is pierced with a round pointed awl. Sections parallel to the cleft axis show a significant population of oblique collagen fibers which are not seen in sections perpendicular to the clefts. These oblique fiber groups show a progression from nearly radial to nearly tangential orientation from deep to more superficial zones, with the most abrupt directional change seen through the transitional zone. Within the transitional zone there is a narrow band having no vertical or horizontal collagen fibers and in which collagen fibers intersect predominantly at angles ranging between 45 and 135 degrees. The number of chondrocyte lacunae per unit area is greater in sections parallel to the cleft axis compared to perpendicular sections by a factor of approximately 1.6:1. There is therefore a greater relative number of chondrocytes in the plane of section having the greatest abundance of oblique collagen fibers, suggesting a cellular basis for the collagenous architecture observed. The results are consistent with published biophysical data relating tensile and swelling properties of all zones of articular cartilage to the cleft axis.