cartilage

Cartilage:
is flexible connective tissue found throughout the whole body.

It is stiffer than most other connective tissue types but flexible

enough to withstand compressive forces without breaking or
.becoming permanently deformed
 Types of Cartilage

There are 3 types of cartilage:

Hyaline

Elastic

Fibro-cartilage
Hyaline cartilage:

is the most common of the three types of cartilage.

In its fresh state, it is homogeneous and semi-transparent.

In adults, hyaline cartilage is located in the articular surfaces of

movable joints, in the walls of the respiratory tracts (nose, larynx,
trachea, and bronchi), in the costal cartilages, and in the epiphyseal
.bones plates of long
During embryonic development, hyaline cartilage
serves as temporary cartilage models that are
essential precursors to the formation of most of
the axial and appendicular skeleton.

This article will focus on important features of

hyaline cartilage, namely its matrix,
.perichondrium chondrocytes, and
The extracellular matrix (ECM) of hyaline cartilage:

is homogeneous and glassy, rich in in type II collagen, proteoglycans such as

aggrecan, and structural glycoproteins such as chondronectin.

Aggrecan is the most abundant proteoglycan in hyaline cartilage; hundreds of

these aggrecans are bound noncovalently by link proteins to long polymers of
hyaluronic acid.

Chondronectin is a structural multi-adhesive glycoprotein.

It binds specifically to glycosaminoglycans, collagen type II fibers, as well as

.integrins, and mediates the adherence of chondrocytes to the ECM
Chondrocytes:

occupy relatively little of the hyaline cartilage mass.

They are embedded in an extensive matrix and are located

in matrix cavities known as lacunae, which appear as tiny
white lakes under a light microscope.

Chondrocytes are important in synthesizing and maintaining

.components of the ECM
At the periphery, young chondrocytes (or chondroblasts) have an elliptic
shape, with their long axis parallel to the surface.
At the core, mature chondrocytes have a round shape and often appear as
a group of up to eight cells.

These groups are known as isogenous aggregates, which originate from

the mitotic divisions of a single chondroblast.

Once the chondrocytes become more active in secreting ECM

components, they become pushed apart and each occupy a lacuna
Notably, chondrocytes tend to have irregular shapes under a
light microscope.

That is because cartilage cells and the matrix often shrink during routine
histologic preparations.

In living tissue and in properly prepared sections, chondrocytes

.completely fill their lacunae
Perichondrium:

All cartilage is avascular and receives nutrients by diffusion from capillaries originating
from the perichondrium.

Perichondrium is a layer of dense connective tissue that surrounds all hyaline cartilage,
except in the articular cartilage of movable joints.

It is essential for the growth and maintenance of cartilage, as it harbors its vascular
supply, as well as its nerves and lymphatic vessels.

Although the articular cartilage of movable joints is not covered by perichondrium, they
are sustained by diffusion of oxygen and nutrients from synovial fluid.

The perichondrium consists mostly of fibroblasts, chondroblasts, and collagen type

.I fibers
Elastic cartilage:
sometimes referred to as yellow fibrocartilage, is a type of cartilage that provides
both strength and elasticity to certain parts of the body, such as the ears.

Within the outer ear, it provides the skeletal basis of the pinna, as well as the lateral region of the
external auditory meatus.

Elastic cartilage is also found in the epiglottis, as well as the corniculate and cuneiform laryngeal
cartilages.

Moreover, the walls of the medial part of the auditory canal is made up of elastic cartilage.

It also allows structures to maintain their own specific shapes, easily reverting back to its
original shape after being deformed.

.For example, if you pull or bend your ear, it will revert back to its natural shape when you let go
Fibrocartilage:

is a transition tissue that should be viewed as a blend between hyaline cartilage

and dense fibrous connective tissue.

It is a white, densely arranged, opaque, tufted tissue with a mixture of

both chondrocytes and fibroblasts.

Its composition varies depending on the anatomical location and intended

function of the fibrocartilage in this area.

For example, fibrocartilage found in intervertebral discs has greater tensile

strength and elasticity.

In contrast, the fibrocartilage found in the glenoid or acetabular labra are more
resistant to repetitious stress and provide strength and elasticity to the
musculoskeletal attachment
fibrocartilage can be categorized into four different types:

1.intra-articular fibrocartilage :present at the joints where flexion and

extension are associated with gliding and they act as thrust-pads and help
to prevent instability of the joints.

2.connecting fibrocartilage: present in the limited-motion joints, acting as

a cushion to distribute stresses.

3.stratiform fibrocartilage: in the form of a thin layer over the bone

where the tendons may glide, helping to minimize the friction between
bone and tendon.

4.circumferential fibrocartilage: present in the form of a ring without a

.center to protect the joint margins and improve the bony fit
Location:

fibrocartilage is more commonly observed at enthesis organs and wrap-around

regions.

The wrap-around regions represent areas where tendons of limb muscles

course around pulley systems within the joint and change directions (e.g. the
action of the quadriceps femoris across the knee joint).

On the other hand, the enthesis organs represent points of increased stress
within a fibrocartilaginous joint (e.g. the insertion of the Achilles tendon into
the calcaneus).
There are periosteal and sesamoid forms of the
fibrocartilaginous enthesis.

The former is formed from the attachment from tendon to

the periosteum, while the latter is closer to the tendinous
part of the insertion.

The organ functions primarily as risk reduction unit as it

spreads the stress within; making it less likely for tendon
.rupture and joint destabilization to occur
Fibrochondrocytes:

Cells that produce fibrocartilage are often referred to as fibroblasts or chondrocytes.

because of their unique development, they should be referred to as fibrocartilage

cells or even fibrochondrocytes.

The cells within the enthesis are similar to chondrocytes such that they possess a
round to oval shape and are isolated within lacunae in the extracellular matrix.

these cells lack gap junctions among, and by extension there is little to no
communication among the cells.

This is quite the opposite when compared to normal fibroblast cells or osteocytes,
.which are known to have an elaborate communication system
the organelles in the enthesis fibrocartilage cells are quite similar to those
seen in the average chondrocyte.

These cells possess lipid droplets, glycogen granules that arise from the
rough endoplasmic reticulum and multiple intermediate filaments.

The intermediate filaments are particularly significant as they are most likely
there to reinforce the other biomechanically active components of the
surrounding tissue
Which is the strongest type of cartilage?

1.Elastic cartilage

2.Hyaline cartilage

3.Fibrocartilage
Which is the strongest type of cartilage?

1.Elastic cartilage

2.Hyaline cartilage

3.Fibrocartilage
Which cells produce the extra-cellular matrix of cartilage?

1.Osteoblasts

2.Chondroblasts

3.Osteocytes

4.Chondrocytes
Which cells produce the extra-cellular matrix of
cartilage?

1.Osteoblasts

2.Chondroblasts

3.Osteocytes

4.Chondrocytes
Which type of cartilage attaches the ribs to the sternum?

1.Hyaline cartilage

2.Elastic cartilage

3.Fibrocartilage

4.Articular cartilage
Which type of cartilage attaches the ribs to the
sternum?

1.Hyaline cartilage

2.Elastic cartilage

3.Fibrocartilage

4.Articular cartilage
What does cartilage consist of?

1.Specialised cells, extra cellular deposits, myofibrils

2.Specialised epithelium, extracellular matrix, collagen fibres

3.Specialised cells, extracellular matrix, collagen fibres

4.Chondrocytes, perichondrium
What does cartilage consist of?

1.Specialised cells, extra cellular deposits, myofibrils

2.Specialised epithelium, extracellular matrix, collagen fibres

3.Specialised cells, extracellular matrix, collagen fibres

4.Chondrocytes, perichondrium