Inflammation of a cartilage that covers the surfaces of the bone ends such as the joints in the arms and legs or the ends of the ribs in the chest. Chondritis causes pain in the affected area, especially with movement of the joint. The inflammation of cartilage is commonly due to mechanical pressure, stress, injury, or local inflammation.
Chondritis, which refers to the inflammation of cartilage, a connective tissue composed primarily of the gel-like substance collagen, typically occurs due to factors such as pressure, stress, or injury.
Costochondritis denotes the inflammation of the cartilage positioned between the ribs and the sternum, commonly known as the breastbone. This condition manifests as tenderness over the sternum and causes pain when pressure is applied to the ribs in the front of the chest. Additionally, chondritis can also affect the cartilage lining the hip and knee joints, potentially leading to the development of osteoarthritis as a result of this inflammation over time.