Connective tissue II

CARTILAGE
Samrat Sapkota
MD
Cartilage
• Specialized connective tissue for high resistance
– tension, compression & shearing (Resilience &
Elasticity)
• Avascular, no lymphatics, no nerve supply
• Low metabolic rate
 Constituents
• Cells – chondrocytes, chondroblasts
• Located in lacunae
• Matrix
• Fibers: Collagen, elastic
• Ground substance: hyaluronic
acid, proteoglycans, glycoproteins,
chondroitin SO4
• Macromolecules, water & fibers bind
together to give firm, flexible property
Chondrocytes in Lacunae
Perichondrium
• Dense CT that covers
cartilage (except
articular & fibrocartilage)
• Supplied by vessels &
nerves
• Contains collagen fibers,
fibroblasts
Types of Cartilage
• Hyaline
• Costal
• Articular
• Elastic
• Fibro cartilage
Hyaline Cartilage

• Nose, trachea,
larynx
• Bluish white color
• Strong, rubbery &
flexible
Hyaline Cartilage
Hyaline Cartilage
Elastic Cartilage
• Similar to hyaline
• Fibers: collagen + elastic
• Found in - auricle of ear, external auditory canals, eustachian
tubes, epiglottis
• Maintains shape, deforms but returns to shape; flexibility of
organ; strengthens and supports structures.
Elastic Cartilage
Elastic Cartilage
(Epiglottis)
Fibrocartilage
• No Perichondrium
• Collagen fibres (Type I)
• Densely packed bundles
• Feathery appearance
• Merge with surrounding CT

• Scanty Chondrocytes
• Small cells in lacunae
• form short rows between dense bundles of collagen fibres
Fibrocartilage
 Identifying features
• Costal cartilage
• Perichondrium +
• Ground glass appearance
• Cells ++
• Articular cartilage
• Perichondrium –
• Ground glass appearance
• Cells +
• Elastic cartilage
• Perichondrium +
• Elastic fibers seen
• Cells ++
• Fibrocartilage
• Perichondrium –
• Feathery appearance
• Cells +
Hyaline cartilage - costal
Hyaline cartilage - articular
Elastic cartilage
Fibrocartilage