Modelling of articular cartilage containing chondrocytes and finite element analysis for articular cartilage and chondrocytes under compression

It is well accepted that articular cartilage adapts to changing mechanical environments. As the rubbing condition is getting severe, the articular cartilage will be worn, resulting in osteoarthritis. but little is known about the mechanism to osteoarthritis. It is important to clear the stress-strain state of cartilage and in chondrocytes under repeated cartilage deformation to know how osteoarthritis gets to start and progress. The purpose of this study is to investigate an influence of chondrocytes on stress-strain state of articular cartilage and an influence of position of chondrocyte on its depth-dependent deformation. FEM analyses predict time-dependent stress-strain state of articular cartilage because of fluid exudation, but material properties of chondrocytes do not affect the behavior of articular cartilage so much. The deformation of chondrocyte is depth-dependent and the largest time-dependent deformation behavior occurs in the surface layer. These results may clear how the transduction of mechanical stimuli concern about metabolism of articular cartilage via chondrocytes.