The Intern At Work: Internal Medicine
Sep 27, 2026 · 13 min · 8 segments
Send us Fan Mail Osteoarthritis may not just be inevitable wear and tear of a joint. In this episode, we break down osteoarthritis, exploring joint…
Time for our Minute Physiology.
Normal joints are aligned with articular cartilage, a smooth, resilient tissue that covers the ends of bones and allows frictionless movement.
The joint is enclosed by a capsule lined with synovium, which produces synovial fluid to lubricate the joint.
In osteoarthritis, the system breaks down.
Osteoarthritis is considered a disease of the whole joint.
Cartilage gradually loses prostaglycans and collagen, reducing its ability to withstand mechanical load.
As cartilage thins and fissures, the underlying subchondral bone becomes exposed and thickened, a process called subchondral sclerosis.
New bone forms at the joint margins, creating osteophytes.
Low-grade inflammation of the synovium contributes to pain and stiffness.
The result is a joint that is structurally altered, mechanically inefficient, and painful, especially with use.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis worldwide, affecting hundreds of millions of people globally and representing the leading cause of disability.
It is the third most rapidly growing health condition associated with disability after dementia and diabetes.
Risk factors include age, obesity, prior joint injury, repetitive joint use, malalignment, and genetics.
While aging increases risk, osteoarthritis is not an inevitable consequence of getting older.
Time for our Minute Physiology.
Normal joints are aligned with articular cartilage, a smooth, resilient tissue that covers the ends of bones and allows frictionless movement.
The joint is enclosed by a capsule lined with synovium, which produces synovial fluid to lubricate the joint.
In osteoarthritis, the system breaks down.
Osteoarthritis is considered a disease of the whole joint.
Cartilage gradually loses prostaglycans and collagen, reducing its ability to withstand mechanical load.
As cartilage thins and fissures, the underlying subchondral bone becomes exposed and thickened, a process called subchondral sclerosis.
New bone forms at the joint margins, creating osteophytes.
Low-grade inflammation of the synovium contributes to pain and stiffness.
The result is a joint that is structurally altered, mechanically inefficient, and painful, especially with use.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis worldwide, affecting hundreds of millions of people globally and representing the leading cause of disability.
It is the third most rapidly growing health condition associated with disability after dementia and diabetes.
Risk factors include age, obesity, prior joint injury, repetitive joint use, malalignment, and genetics.
While aging increases risk, osteoarthritis is not an inevitable consequence of getting older.
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