Musculoskeletal Key

Key Points At least two populations of tissue macrophages exist: tissue-resident cells that are embryonically derived and a monocyte-derived population. Their functions may be discrete. Macrophages are plastic and will…

Key Points Dendritic cells (DCs) together with monocytes and macrophages compose the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS). DCs are professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs), abundant at body surfaces and within tissues, where…

Key Points Proteinases are generally classified into aspartic proteinases, cysteine proteinases, serine proteinases, and metalloproteinases according to their catalytic mechanism. Because of the optimal acidic pH and intra-cellular localization within…

Key Points Tissue repair and regeneration are partially determined by genetic factors. Successful regeneration requires a balanced immune cell response. The increased understanding of molecular signals governing native joint-resident stem…

Key Points Kinematics is the study of the geometric and time-dependent aspects of motion without analyzing the forces causing the motion. Kinetics is the study of the forces that cause…

Key Points The structure and function of skeletal muscle and its neural recruitment pattern can change rapidly in response to activity level (i.e., plasticity). The smallest functional unit of muscle,…

Key Points Intramembranous or endochondral ossification generates bone tissue. Bones consist of a dense cortical shell and sponge-like trabecular network. Bone formation depends on metabolically active osteoblasts synthesizing matrix proteins….

Key Points Articular cartilage matrix is heterogeneous and contains a core matrisome of key extra-cellular matrix (ECM) proteins, of which the large aggregating proteoglycan aggrecan and collagen types II, IX,…

Key Points The synovium provides nutrients to cartilage and produces lubricants for the joint. The intimal lining of the synovium includes macrophage-like and fibroblast-like synoviocytes. The sublining in normal synovium…

Key Points Condensation of mesenchymal cells, which differentiate into chondrocytes, results in formation of the cartilage anlagen, which provides the template for the developing skeleton. During development of the synovial…