A discus articularis is a joint disc. It is made of cartilage and connective tissue. In the human organism, there are several articular discs in different locations.
What is the articular disc?
In the human organism, there is a discus articularis in different places. It is an intermediate joint disc. This means that each discus articularis is surrounded by two opposing articular surfaces. The function of the intermediate articular disc is to act like a buffer between the two articular surfaces and compensate for mismatches. In most cases, the interarticular discs provide pressure equalization. A discus articularis, consisting of cartilage and connective tissue, separates the separate chambers located within a joint cavity. Joints can cause problems and pain when overused or with increasing age. The cartilage breaks down and cannot be rebuilt naturally. For this reason, preventive measures are highly recommended when dealing with joints. Among the best known joints are the jaw joint, the wrists or the knee joint. If problems occur with a discus articularis, the surrounding regions are often affected as well. The interarticular discs are supplied by the surrounding fluids. Thus, they are not connected to the circulatory or nervous systems.
Anatomy and structure
Disci articularis may be located in the knee, hand, or temporomandibular joint. The medical term for a discus articularis is fibrocartilago interarticularis. A discus articularis is composed primarily of cartilage, fibers, and connective tissue. The cartilage tissue in the human organism is capable of bending and consists of several substances. They include cells, connective and supporting tissues. Cartilage is more susceptible to damage than bone, although cartilage forms the basis of the skeleton consisting of bone. The connective tissue, which belongs to a discus articularis, consists mainly of intercellular mass. Its function is to protect against damage and it is a water reservoir. The connective tissue serves as a defense against pathogens. No nerve tracts or blood vessels run to the disci articularis. Thus, there is also no supply of nutrients and messenger substances via the nervous or blood system. A discus articularis supplies itself via a process known as diffusion. During this process, a dynamic self-motion takes place. This is influenced by surrounding regions. In the case of the articular disc, this is the synovium. This is a fluid located in the surrounding joints, bursae or tendon sheaths.
Function and tasks
The tasks of joint discs are many. They help compensate for existing imbalances in the joint surfaces. The imbalances are called mismatches. Articular surfaces are formed by at least two bones. These are in a mobile connection to each other. A distinction is made between different joint shapes. They include the spherical joint, the ellipsoidal joint, the saddle joint and the cylindrical joint. All of them have different functions and are of varying complexity. What they all have in common, however, is the presence of an intermediate joint disc. Depending on the joint shape, other imbalances must be compensated for by a discus articularis. In addition, the interarticular discs serve to increase the contact area between the individual elements of the joint. This results in a widening of the contact surface. Another task of the articular discs is their buffer function. In this way, they cushion the pressure exerted on the individual joints. The buffer function leads to a distribution of pressure within the joint. Pressure is transmitted perpendicular to the load-bearing surface. If the joint surfaces are uneven, a discus articularis acts like a sliding cushion. The pressure is distributed over this and the load-bearing surface is to be relieved. The joint disc is able to fill the joint gap almost completely. The interarticular discs have another function in the movement process. A joint consists of a condyle and a socket. The articular disc helps the condyle to move well in the socket. It is even guided by the interarticular disc during movements.
Diseases
Depending on the location of the corresponding joint, different symptoms occur. Joint ailments cause an overall limited range of motion.Osteoarthritis of the joints can occur in any area where there are joint disks. It is often accompanied by redness of the skin and swelling of the joints and surrounding regions. Wear and tear of a joint can lead to joint inflammation. As soon as the activity of the joint is limited, the affected region is often spared. This in turn can cause tension in the muscles. Joints trigger complaints when they are overloaded or subjected to one-sided stress. This can happen with incorrect movement, but also with overweight. Hereditary factors, age and weight are important criteria in joint complaints. Smoking promotes diseases such as psoriatic arthritis. This is an inflammation of the joints in the context of psoriasis. It represents a form of rheumatism. Symptoms such as dizziness, sleep disturbances or difficulty swallowing are among the complaints of the temporomandibular joint. In addition, it can lead to ringing in the ears or restrictions in the movements of the head as well as the neck. Misalignments of the jaw or poorly fitted dentures can be complementary causes. Tooth gaps and associated tooth migration are also included. Bones near joints can also be responsible for various joint complaints. Once bones fuse incorrectly after a fracture, this can cause joint wear. This also happens when joint cartilage has been damaged in an injury. Thus, injuries after accidents have a significant impact on joint discomfort and pain even after a long period of time.
