"Please explain the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis to me," says another nurse."Is it just wear and tear so that the cartilage wears out?" Your best response is
A) "Yes; repeated use just wears out the cartilage, until it becomes thin and denuded. That causes pain and will eventually cause joint inflammation."
B) "Yes; with increasing age, the inflammation from repeated joint use accumulates and causes the cartilage to get thin and ragged until it disappears."
C) "No; cells in bone, cartilage, and the synovial membrane all get activated and secrete inflammatory mediators that destroy cartilage and damage bone."
D) "No; autoimmune cells infiltrate the joint and collect on the cartilage in a mass called 'pannus' that eventually thins and destroys the cartilage."

Question

"Please explain the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis to me," says another nurse."Is it just wear and tear so that the cartilage wears out?" Your best response is
A) "Yes; repeated use just wears out the cartilage, until it becomes thin and denuded. That causes pain and will eventually cause joint inflammation."
B) "Yes; with increasing age, the inflammation from repeated joint use accumulates and causes the cartilage to get thin and ragged until it disappears."
C) "No; cells in bone, cartilage, and the synovial membrane all get activated and secrete inflammatory mediators that destroy cartilage and damage bone."
D) "No; autoimmune cells infiltrate the joint and collect on the cartilage in a mass called 'pannus' that eventually thins and destroys the cartilage."

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Osteoarthritis involves a complex interaction between osteoclasts,osteoblasts,chondrocytes,and synoviocytes that eventually destroy cartilage and damage subchondral bone.Repeated use of a joint and pannus are not the causes of osteoarthritis.Inflammatory mediators,not inflammation from repeated joint use,are the cause of osteoarthritis.

"Please Explain the Pathophysiology of Osteoarthritis to Me," Says Another