The biomechanics of cartilage load-carriage.

This paper presents a review and critical appraisal of the more recent attempts to understand the fundamental mechanisms of load-carriage in articular cartilage. In the first section the question is addressed as to how the intrinsic strength of the matrix is developed with respect to its ultrastructure. In the second part we examine various models proposed to explain the response of the matrix to externally applied compressive forces in terms of its unique physico-chemical properties.