Abstract
1. All articulating cartilages are fibrocartilages.
2. The articular cartilages of the synovial joints are largely composed of collagen fibres.
3. These fibres form a dense network, the fibres of which run obliquely between the articular surface and the bone.
4. This network is operative when the parts are at rest and in contact under pressure. It takes the tensile component of the resultant shear stress, and is a postural mechanism of the joint.
5. The articular cartilage is most heavily chondrified at its centre, between the juxta-synovial and juxta-osseous parts.
6. The technique for demonstrating the fibrous structure is described.
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