The Facts

• Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary defines pathology as the study of a disease's essential features and effects on the body.
  
  

Disease Characteristics

• According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, osteoarthritis is characterized by the wearing away of the cartilage that normally cushions joint surfaces. As the syndrome worsens, the disappearance of cartilage creates direct bone-on-bone contact, leading to the development of bony growths (spurs) inside the joint.
  
  

Functional Results

• The Mayo Clinic cites functional results of osteoarthritis that include joint stiffness, pain, tenderness and a grating sensation when moving the affected joint.
  
  

Progressive Effects

• As osteoarthritis progresses over time, its effects deepen, with potential results that include severe pain and inability to perform daily tasks.
  
  

Risk Factors

• Risk factors for the development of osteoarthritis include female gender, older age, obesity, joint injuries, certain bone defects and working in occupations that require repeated stress on the joints.