CARTILAGE

Cartilage is a specialized form of connective tissue

composed of cells called chondrocytes and an
extensive extracellular matrix composed of fibers
and ground substance
FUNCTIONS
• Allows the tissue to bear mechanical stresses without permanent
distortion
• support soft tissues
• Provides shock-absorbing and sliding area for joints and facilitates
bone movements
• Essential for the development and growth of long bones both before
and after birth
CLASSIFICATION

• Hyaline cartilage
• Fibrocartilage
• Elastic cartilage
Type Distribution Perichondrium

Hyaline Articular surfaces of the Present in all

cartilage movable joints, nose, types except
larynx, trachea, bronchi, articular hyaline
ventral ends of ribs, cartilage
epiphyseal plate

Fibrocartilage Intervertebral disks, Absent

symphysis pubis, Menisci
of knee joint

Elastic Auricle of the ear, walls of Present in all

cartilage the external auditory types
canals, auditory
(eustachian) tubes,
epiglottis, cuneiform
cartilage in the larynx.
Type Chondrocytes Fibres Ground Substance

•Young Hyaline -Proteoglycans

chondrocytes cartilage chondroitin 4-sulfate,
have an elliptic contains chondroitin 6-sulfate, and
shape primarily type keratan sulfate
•Mature are round II collagen Glycoproteins
Hyaline and present in Small
cartilage amounts of Chondronectin
groups.
(isogenous) collagen types
•Shrink in routine IX, X, XI, and -Area around the chondrocyte
histological others are has more
Fresh
hyaline processing owing frequently glycosaminoglycans this zone
cartilage is to the formation of present is known as territorial, or
bluish- lacunae Fibes and capsular zone.
white and ground -The high content of solvation
translucent substance has water bound to the negative
same charges of
refrective glycosaminoglycans acts as a
index so fibre shock absorber
are
indescernible
Type Chondrocytes Fibres Ground Substance

•Young type II -Proteoglycans

chondrocytes collagen fibres chondroitin 4-sulfate,
have an elliptic chondroitin 6-sulfate, and
shape keratan sulfate
•Mature are round elastic fibers
Glycoproteins
Elastic and found in
cartilage groups. Chondronectin
Small
(isogenous) amounts of
Yellow •Shrink in routine collagen types
appearanc histological IX, X, XI, and
e of fresh processing owing others are
cartilage frequently
to the formation of
lacunae present
Type Chondrocytes Fibres Ground Substance

•Isolated or in Type I collagen -Proteoglycans

isogenous fibres gives chondroitin 4-
groups, acidophilic sulfate, chondroitin
usually appearance 6-sulfate, and
Fibro arranged in keratan sulfate
cartilage long rows Irregular bundles Glycoproteins
parallel to between the
each other Chondronectin
groups of
chondrocytes or
are aligned in a
parallel
arrangement
along the
columns of
chondrocytes