How does damaged articular cartilage typically heal?

Damaged articular cartilage typically heals by forming fibrocartilage. This is primarily due to the limited regenerative capacity of hyaline cartilage, which is made up of chondrocytes embedded in a dense extracellular matrix. When articular cartilage is injured, the healing process does not restore the original hyaline cartilage structure but instead results in the formation of fibrocartilage, which is denser and less elastic.

Fibrocartilage is more fibrous in nature and is better suited to withstand the mechanical loads and stresses placed on joints, particularly in poorer vascularized areas where healing is more challenging. This is why the mending tissue does not regain the same properties as the fibroelastic hyaline cartilage originally present.

The balance between the components found in fibrocartilage provides a scaffold for further healing but does not replicate the unique biomechanical and functional capabilities of hyaline cartilage, which is integral for joint function. Thus, fibrocartilage serves as a practical solution to articular injuries, even though it may not fully restore the joint's original functionality.