Osteoarthritis (doctors may call it degenerative joint disease) affects the articular cartilage. Articular cartilage is the white, smooth cap on the end of bones where they meet inside a joint. This articular cartilage (cap) prevents bones from causing pain when the bones move against each other. The body has a mechanism whereby it makes new cartilage (chondrocytes make new cartilage cells) and old damaged cartilage is degraded and disposed of. However when osteoarthritis happens, Chondrocytes can't make new cartilage fast enough and the articular cartilage becomes sick and starts to wear thin in places of high usage. Bones begin to rub together instead of gliding painlessly. The person experiences pain and stiffness.
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