Cartilage is one of the most significant structures for joint function and is compromised in degenerative and traumatic joint disease. MR imaging has been established as the standard cartilage imaging modality, and techniques have been developed and optimized to visualize cartilage morphology, to quantify its volume and to analyze its biochemical composition. The substantial amount of research that is invested in the development of these morphologic and quantitative imaging techniques is geared at preventing and treating traumatic and degenerative cartilage disease at the earliest stages.