Abstract
Knee taken from 66 cadavers, ranging in age from 49 to 85 years (average 68.8) were examined by macroscopic and morphological study, measurement of the thickness of articular cartilage, and analysis of subchondral bones. The results were summerized as follows : 1) Degenerative changes were clearly seen at the medial anterior surface, medial inferior condyle, and posterior condyle. 2) Degenerative changes were conspicuose in specimens whose anterior joint surfaces were almost triangular, and when the ratio between the width of the lateral posterior condyle and the width of the medial posterior condyle was greater. 3) In specimens in which the thickness of the articular cartilage was more than 3 mm, degenerative changes were clear at the center of the anterior joint surface, the medial inferior condyle, and the medial posterior condyle. 4) The difference in the thickness of mineralized trabecular with a depth of subchondral bone of 5 mm and one with 5 to 10 mm was slight, but the volume of mineralized trabecular with 5 mm depth correlated with the thickness of articular cartilage.
