Table 3 Territorial Structure of hyaline articular cartilage [8]
From: Shear bioreactors stimulating chondrocyte regeneration, a systematic review
Location | Collagen fibers | Proteoglycans | Function | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Pericellular matrix chondron | Type II, VI, and IX concentrated in the pericellular network of thin fibrils as fibronectin. | Mainly proteoglycans as aggrecan, hyaluronan and decorin, glycoproteins, and other non-collagenous proteins | Functional role to initiate signal transduction within cartilage with load bearing |
2 | (The territorial matrix) This region is thicker than the pericellular matrix | Fine collagen fibrils, forming a basketlike network around the cells Type VI collagen microfibrils but little or no fibrillar collagen. | High concentrations | May protect the cartilage cells against mechanical stresses and may contribute to the resiliency of the articular cartilage structure and its ability to withstand a substantial load |
The interterritorial matrix largest of the 3 matrix regions; it contributes most to the biomechanical properties of articular cartilage | Large collagen type IV fibers Randomly oriented bundles of large collagen fibrils, as zonal structure collagen type II, type XI collagen and type IX collagen | Are abundant | Bulk of articular cartilage permitting association with other matrix components and retention of proteoglycans. These collagens give to the cartilage form, tensile stiffness, and strength |