Table 1

Summary of results from (A) μMRI measurements, (B) PLM measurements, and (C) mechanical indentation of control and OA specimens (n = 18)

Parameter	Topographical location on medial tibia
	M3 specimen			M4 specimen			M5 specimen
	Control	OA	p Value	Control	OA	p Value	Control	OA	p Value
The results are shown as mean (SD) for each parameter at each topographical location (n = 3). NS indicates that there is no significant difference between OA and control specimens at a particular location (paired Student’s t test, p<0.05).
(A) μMRI measurements
Total thickness (μm)	880 (60)	1120 (100)	0.019	1000 (110)	1050 (130)	NS	880 (30)	1000 (40)	0.038
Superficial zone relative thickness	0.05 (0.01)	0.03 (0.01)	0.009	0.05 (0.01)	0.06 (0.02)	NS	0.06 (0.01)	0.03 (0.02)	0.01
Relative depth of max T₂	0.1 (0.01)	0.06 (0.05)	0.001	0.1 (0.04)	0.11 (0.04)	NS	0.1 (0.02)	0.08 (0.01)	0.011
T₂ at the superficial zone (ms)	50 (15)	59 (14)	NS	49 (18)	37 (16)	NS	56 (12)	72 (25)	NS
“Bulk” T₂ (ms) at ~0°	27 (2)	29 (2)	NS	26 (2)	26 (5)	NS	31 (9)	33 (7)	NS
(B) PLM measurements
Total thickness (μm)	930 (90)	1210 (30)	0.044	1010 (80)	1070 (90)	NS	860 (30)	1100 (50)	0.048
Superficial zone relative thickness	0.08 (0.01)	0.04 (0.01)	0.007	0.06 (0.02)	0.06 (0.03)	NS	0.08 (0.01)	0.05 (0.02)	0.04
Relative depth of min retardance	0.09 (0.02)	0.05 (0.01)	NS	0.09 (0.02)	0.09 (0.02)	NS	0.11 (0.03)	0.06 (0.01)	NS
Retardance at the superficial zone (nm)	2.7 (1.0)	1.7 (0.2)	NS	2.0 (0.5)	1.9 (0.2)	NS	3.4 (0.9)	1.5 (0.5)	0.04
Average orientation difference (°)	85 (20)	70 (10)	NS	70 (10)	70 (10)	NS	110 (20)	70 (20)	0.015
(C) Mechanical indentation
Tangent Young’s Modulus (MPa)	2.0 (0.7)	1.1 (0.3)	NS	2.20 (0.6)	1.80 (0.4)	NS	1.90 (0.6)	1.10 (0.6)	0.045