How does osteoarthritis (OA) affect joints?

• A. It causes inflammation in various bodily tissues
• B. It leads to degeneration of cartilage over time
• C. It primarily affects soft tissue structures surrounding joints
• D. It is related to bacterial infections in the joints

Answer: (B)

Osteoarthritis (OA) primarily leads to the degeneration of cartilage over time, which is a critical aspect of the disease's pathophysiology. Cartilage serves as a smooth, protective covering on the ends of bones where they meet to form joints. In OA, this cartilage gradually wears away, resulting in increased friction, joint pain, and reduced mobility. As the cartilage deteriorates, the bones may also begin to rub against each other, which can cause inflammation in the surrounding joint tissues, but the core problem in OA is the progressive loss of cartilage.

While inflammation can occur as a result of the degeneration, it is not the initiating factor of OA, distinguishing it from other forms of arthritis that are primarily inflammatory, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Furthermore, OA does not primarily involve soft tissue structures such as ligaments and tendons, nor is it typically associated with bacterial infections, which are more characteristic of infectious arthritis conditions. Thus, the correct answer highlights the key feature of osteoarthritis's impact on joint health.