Question

Please define the pathology Arthritis, how does it affects the body system, and what are the associated anatomy parts of the body affected?

Answer 1

Arthritis: Degenerative joint disease characterized by degeneration of cartilage that results in structural and functional failure of synovial joints.

How it affects body system?:

The lesions of arthritis stem from degeneration of articular cartilage and its disordered repair.

The articular cartilage provides frictionless movement of joint and provides resistance to tension and compression by type-II collagen and proteoglycans, both synthesized by chondrocytes. The disease usually involves complex pathologic changes in chondrocyte and matrix, which may be:

1. Chondrocyte injury due to genetic and biochemical factors.

2. Chondrocytes may secrete inflammatory mediators, collagens, proteases and initiate secondary inflammatory changes in synovium and subchondral bone.

3. Repititive injury and chronic inflammation may lead to chondrocyte drop out, marked loss of cartilage and subchondral bone changes.

Characteristic symptoms include:

• Deep,achy pain that worsens with use
• morning stiffness
• limitation of range of movement

Anatomy parts of body affected:

The joints commonly involved are -

• hip joint,
• knee joint,
• lower lumbar and cervical vertebrae,
• proximal and distal interphalangeal joints of fingers,
• first carpometacarpal joints,
• first tarsometatarsal joints.

The wrists, elbows and shoulders are usually spared.

Reference: Pathologic Basis of Disease, 9e by Robbins & Cotran.