Did You Know!
Cartilage Has No Blood Supply — Yet It Stays Alive
Rare Fact: Cartilage is completely avascular — it has no blood vessels, no nerves, and no lymphatics.
Why this matters:
Cartilage cells (called chondrocytes) survive by absorbing nutrients directly from surrounding joint fluid through diffusion. This is one reason cartilage heals extremely slowly — there’s no direct blood flow bringing repair cells to the area like in muscle or skin.
Interesting twist: Movement actually helps feed your cartilage. When you walk, compressing and decompressing joints pushes nutrient-rich fluid in and waste products out — like a sponge.
