No clear picture of the deformation and wear mechanisms of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) in artificial knee joints exists up to today. Tribological tests were conducted under relevant loads and the worn samples were extensively studied by XRD, DSC, Raman, and SEM. It was shown that stresses close to the surface in areas where high relative velocity in combination with high normal loads are applied are most effective in changing the microstructure and therefore most detrimental to produce wear particles, while in the depth the same deformed structure as under unidirectional cyclic loading is found. A model was proposed which reflects the deformation at different zones in the depth of a tribologically loaded UHMWPE sample. This model shows amazing analogy to the orientation of collagen fibrils in natural cartilage.