Biotribology: Friction,wear, and lubrication of natural synovial joints

Studies have been carried out over the past several years to explore possible interconnections between tribology — the study of friction, wear, and lubrication — and arthrology, more specifically, mechanisms of synovial joint lubrication and degeneration. The focus of this paper is on the tribological behaviour of natural and so-called ‘normal’ synovial joints. A separate paper deals with possible connections between tribology and degenerative joint disease (e.g., osteoarthritis). The purpose of this paper is fourfold: (1) to present a summary of salient work on mechanisms of synovial joint lubrication; (2) to review the key findings of our in vitro wear studies made with bovine articular cartilage; (3) to discuss the significance of the cartilage wear studies in relation to existing joint lubrication theories; and (4) to describe a new device being used for studies of cartilage-on-cartilage deformation, friction, wear and damage under in vitro conditions.