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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2011 Jul 29.
Published in final edited form as: Crit Rev Biomed Eng. 2009;37(1-2):1–57. doi: 10.1615/critrevbiomedeng.v37.i1-2.10

Table 1.

The composition of articular cartilage

Articular Cartilage % wet weight19,20 % dry weight21 Functions
Solid Phase (ECM) Collagen Type II collagen is 15–20% All other collagens are < 2% 50–75% Contributes to tensile properties and macromolecule entrapment19,11
Proteoglycan 10% 20–30% Contributes to compressive and flow-dependent viscoelastic properties283
Other glycoprotein, fibronectin etc. Small amount Small amount Contributes to cell-ECM interaction and the stability of ECM
Solid Phase (Cells) Chondrocytes < 5–10% of total tissue volume Modify ECM and maintain suitable tissue size
Fluid Phase Interstitial water and electrolytes 60–80% __ Exchanges nutrients with synovial fluid, lubricates the joint, and contributes to compressive resistance and deformation19