Kempson G E
Ann Rheum Dis. 1982 Oct;41(5):508-11. doi: 10.1136/ard.41.5.508.
The relationship between the tensile properties of articular cartilage and age has been investigated in vitro in the human knee joint. Specimens orientated parallel to the articular surface were excised from the superficial and deep zones of the femoral condyles of knee joints of persons in the age range from 8 to 91 years. The results showed that the tensile strength of the superficial zone increased with age to reach a maximum value in the third decade. Thereafter the strength decreased markedly with increasing age. The tensile strength of cartilage from the deep zone did not show an increase in the early years but decreased continuously with age. The tensile stiffness of the superficial layer at stresses of 5 MN/m2 and 10 MN/m2 increased to maximum values in the third decade and thereafter decreased with increasing age. The stiffness of the deep zone decreased continuously with age. It is suggested that these results reflect changes in the organisation of the collagen fibre mesh with age and possibly also changes in the collagen cross-links.
人们已经在体外对人体膝关节中关节软骨的拉伸特性与年龄之间的关系进行了研究。从年龄在8至91岁人群的膝关节股骨髁的表层和深层切下与关节表面平行取向的标本。结果表明，表层的拉伸强度随年龄增长而增加，在第三个十年达到最大值。此后，强度随着年龄的增加而显著下降。深层软骨的拉伸强度在早年并未增加，而是随年龄持续下降。表层在5 MN/m2和10 MN/m2应力下的拉伸刚度在第三个十年增加到最大值，此后随年龄增加而下降。深层的刚度随年龄持续下降。有人认为，这些结果反映了胶原纤维网结构随年龄的变化，也可能反映了胶原交联的变化。
