The avascular nature of articular cartilage limits oxygen supply within the tissue. Cartilage, therefore, is under physiological hypoxic conditions. Oxygenation gradients are estimated from 10% at the surface to 1% at the deepest layer. Nonetheless, chondrocytes have been reported to be able to survive and are well-adapted to such an environment. We hypothesised that low oxygen tensions favour chondrocyte metabolism based on their nature and literature reviews.