Instability of the patella is a relatively frequent occurrence in adolescents. Its pathogenesis, which is multi-factorial, is still much debated. Stability of the patella is guaranteed by a delicate balance of a series of factors (osteo-cartilaginous, ligamentous and muscular), and it is not surprising that alteration of one or more of these can lead to pathological conditions that can range fr...

FUNG, Y. C. B. Elasticity of soft tissues in simple elongation. Am. J. Physiol. 213(6) : 1532-l 544. 1967 .-Elasticity of living soft tissues is strongly nonlinear. Based on experimental results on rabbits’ mesentery, a theoretical framework is presented in which the elastic properties of soft tissues can be described. It is shown that the mathematical formulation works well also in reducing pu...

1.1 Articular cartilage Articular cartilage is a specialized connective tissue that covers the ends of the bones in the diarthrodial joints. The thickness of human articular cartilage is typically between 1-6 mm. The main functions of articular cartilage are to dissipate and distribute contact stresses during joint loading, and to provide almost frictionless articulation in diarthrodial joints....