Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

BMEN 307: Biomechanics

Joints, Ligaments and Cartilage

Kwabena Kan–Dapaah, Ph.D.

October 24, 2023

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Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Outline

Introduction

Anatomy

Soft CTs of Joints

Biomechanical Behaviour
Viscoelasticity
Cartilage
Ligaments

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Introduction
Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Objectives

At the end of this lecture, you should be able to:

• describe the anatomy of joints

• describe the anatomy of ligaments and cartilages

• describe the biomechanics of joints and soft connective tissue

References:

• https://teachmeanatomy.info/upper-limb/joints/

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Anatomy
Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Definition

Joints, also known as articulations, are the locations where bones meet

They provide stability & allow specialized movement to the skeletal

system
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Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Fibrous (Synarthrosis)

Bones joined by dense fibrous connective tissue (CT)

No joint cavity is present
Mostly immovable joints
The three types are: (a) sutures, (b) syndesmoses, (c) gomphoses 5
Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Cartilaginous (Amphiarthroses)

Bones joined by either hyaline cartilage or fibrocartilage

Slightly movable joints
The two types are: (a) primary (developing bones) and (b) secondary

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Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Synovial (Diarthroses)

Soft CTs: hyaline cartilage and ligaments, synovial fluid 7

Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Shoulder Joint

A ball and socket joint

It is formed by articulations between the humerus head & glenoid cavity
of scapula
Joint motion controlled by about three main ligaments
It is capable of flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal, external
rotation, and circumduction 8
Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Elbow Joint

A hinge joint
It is formed by two separate articulations
• Trochlear notch of ulna and the trochlea of humerus
• Head of radius and the capitulum of humerus
Joint motion controlled by about 3 ligaments
It is capable of flexion and extension
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Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Wrist Joint

A ellipsoid joint
It is formed by two articulations
• distal end of radius and the articular disk
• proximal row of carpal bones (except pisiform)
Joint motion controlled by about 4 main ligaments
It is capable of flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction
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Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Hip Joint

The only true ball-and-socket joint

It is formed by articulations between femur and pelvis
Joint stabilized by about five ligaments
It is capable of flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal and
external rotation
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Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Knee Joint

A hinge joint
It is formed by articulations between the patella, femur & tibia
The menisci are fibrocartilage structures that depends articular surface
and acts as shock absorbers
Joint motion controlled by about five ligaments
It is capable of flexion and extension & a small degree of medial and
lateral rotation
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Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Ankle Joint

A hinge joint
It is formed by articulations between the leg (tibia and fibula) & foot
(talus)
Joint motion controlled by about 4 medial and 3 lateral ligaments
It is capable of dorsiflexion & plantarflexion
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Soft CTs of Joints
Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Background

• Soft connective tissues (CTs) of the skeletal system include:

• Ligaments
• Articular cartilage
• Tendons

• They are composed of

• cells (fibroblasts: tenocytes, chondrocytes; mast, etc.)
• fibres (collagen, elastin)
• ground substance (GAG, proteoglycans, glycoproteins)

• ECM = fibres + ground substance

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Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Soft CTs: Relative proportions of components

Relative proportions, biochemical and structural organisation

of constituents differentiate CTs

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Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Soft CTs: Collagen

It is a fibrous protein that gives structure and rigidity to tissue

• Tropocollagen - basic unit,
contains
• 3 polypeptide chains (α
chains)
• form triple a helical structure

• 5 tropocollagens aggregate →
microfibrils

• Microfibrils → fibrils

• Fibrils → Collagen

Collagen have waviness, which influences biomechanical properties

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Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Soft CTs: Collagen - Types

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Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Collagen - Types

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Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Elastin

Elastic fibrous protein that constitutes fibrils rubber

They behave elastically: low stiffness (≤200% elongation), then
They stabilize collagen fibers

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Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Proteoglycans

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Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

ECM

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Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Articular Cartilage

• Function: Transmits & distributes load; friction reduction

• Cells: chrondroblasts (produce ECM) and chrondrocytes (maintain
and repair)
• Collagen: Types II, IX and XI
• Mature form: no blood vessels, nerve or lymphatics
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Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Ligaments I

Cells: Fibroblasts
Collagen: Type I
Fascia is a special type of ligament, being a continuous sheet of fibrous
tissue.
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Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Ligaments II
• Similar composition as tendons
with few key differences

• Load support, generally

unidirectional and other
directional loads

• Interlaced fibres, even if they are

not completely parallel

• Specific orientation of fibre

bundles depends on ligament
function
• Composition and structure
changes at bone-ligament
interface to make it stiffer:
reduces risk of tearing
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Biomechanical Behaviour
Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Viscoelasticity

Viscoelasticity: Under Tensile Load

CR Ethier et al., 2007

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Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Viscoelasticity

Viscoelasticity: Cyclic Loads

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Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Cartilage

Cartilage: Tension

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Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Cartilage

Cartilage: Compression-Creep

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Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Cartilage

Cartilage: Compression-Stress Relaxation

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Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Ligaments

Tendon and Extremity Ligaments: Tension

Figure 1: Rubber Tendon

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Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Ligaments

Elastic Behaviour: Ligamentum Flavum (60 − 70% elastin)

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Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Ligaments

Ligament Failure

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Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Ligaments

Disease: Cartilage

Osteoarthritis
When cartilage sustains damage in the collagen matrix, through trauma
or wear and tear, the chondrocytes are unable to repair it because they
cannot make collagen type II to repair a break. The result will be
increase damage to the cartilage layer and leakage of GAGs. Since
chondrocytes tend to create versican GAGs instead of aggrecan GAGs in
such a case the osmotic pressure of the cartilage also changes. Also the
chondrocytes proliferate because of the damage, causing the matrix
structure to weaken. All these effects mean that Osteoarthritis is very
difficult to reverse, and once inflammation is present it is also in a
difficult location to treat. In an OA joint the joint space narrows
because of the reduction of cartilage, causing the bone to grow thicker
in order to deal with the increased stress.

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Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Ligaments

Ligament Disuse

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Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Ligaments

Practice Questions

1. What are the structural differences in collagen fibre orientation

between tendons and ligaments? what is the relationship between
collagen fiber orientation and its respective function?
2. Draw a hypothetical load-elongation graph (curve) for a
tendon-ligament living tissue, display all the regions on the curve,
and label the axes.
3. Explain the difference between the yield point and the ultimate
failure point.

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Introduction Anatomy Soft CTs of Joints Biomechanical Behaviour

Ligaments

Thank You

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