A study has been made of cartilage from osteoarthrotic femoral heads in an attempt to relate histological to biochemical and metabolic changes. Cartilage showing different surface characteristics and originating from different areas of the femoral head has been studied. Depending on its surface characteristic and location, the osteoarthrotic cartilage ranged in composition and sulphate metabolism from practically normal to glycosaminoglycan depleted and metabolically depressed. There was no indication of elevation in the sulphate incorporation in the osteoarthrotic cartilage.