  Geodesic deviation is the most basic manifestation of the influence of
gravitational fields on matter. We investigate geodesic deviation within the
framework of Regge calculus, and compare the results with the continuous
formulation of general relativity on two different levels. We show that the
continuum and simplicial descriptions coincide when the cumulative effect of
the Regge contributions over an infinitesimal element of area is considered.
This comparison provides a quantitative relation between the curvature of the
continuous description and the deficit angles of Regge calculus. The results
presented might also be of help in developing generic ways of including matter
terms in the Regge equations.
