AGING CHANGES OF SYSTEMATIC INHOMOGENEITI ES OF ARTICULAR-CARTILAGE

We have considered the question of the quantification of differentiati on processes. We investigated articular cartilage of the Caput femoris in 22 cases aged from 0 to 77 years. We measured cell size and volume density. During aging a shifting of the layer with the maximum cell s ize in relation to the joint surface as well as the formation of two l ayers with different volume densities take place. We believe that the changes in nutritional and load conditions during life play a role in these processes. We describe these with the term ''diversification'', characterizing the process of the changing of the degree of structural order.