Final answer:
Osteoarthritis is a joint disease resulting from the breakdown of joint cartilage and bone. It is associated with aging and mechanical stress on the joints. Symptoms include joint pain and stiffness. Inflammation in osteoarthritis is different from infectious arthritis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a joint disease that results from the breakdown of joint cartilage and bone. It is associated with aging and "wear and tear" of the articular cartilage. The most common symptoms of osteoarthritis are joint pain and stiffness. It is thought to be caused by mechanical stress on the joints with insufficient self-repair of cartilage, coupled with low-grade inflammation of the joints. This inflammation occurs as cells lining the joint attempt to remove breakdown products from cartilage in the synovial space, leading to pain and other symptoms. Inflammation in osteoarthritis is different from infectious arthritis, which is caused by bacterial pathogens.