Chapter 12 The locomotor system/Fig 12.32.jpg

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Osteoarthritis. (A) The articular cartilage is lost from the weightbearing surface of this femoral head; if the acetabular cartilage is similarly lost, then it is easy to see why the joint space becomes narrowed on radiology. The underlying bone so exposed becomes thickened and polished. Osteophytes, protruding pieces of cartilage and bone have formed at the joint margin. (B) The articular cartilage is progressively thinned from right to left and is finally lost completely. To the left of this, bone provides the articular surface and it is noticeably thicker (sclerotic) in this area.