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
 STRUCTURE
Common to all types of cartilages
1. Cells called chondrocytes in lacunae
2. Extracellular matrix
• Ground Substances
– Hyaluronic acid, proteoglycans,
and small amounts of several glycoproteins
• Fibres
– Collagen
 PERICHONDRIUM
• The perichondrium is a sheath of dense
connective tissue that surrounds cartilage in
most placesThe perichondrium harbors the
vascular supply for the avascular cartilage and
also contains nerves and lymphatic vessels.
• Articular cartilage, which covers the surfaces of
the bones of movable joints, is devoid of
perichondrium and is sustained by the diffusion
of oxygen and nutrients from the synovial fluid.
 NOURISHMENT
• Cartilage is avascular
• Nourished by the diffusion of nutrients from
capillaries in adjacent connective tissue
(perichondrium) or by synovial fluid from
joint cavities.
• Chondrocytes exhibit low metabolic activity.
• Anerobic glycolysis
• Cartilage has no lymphatic vessels or
nerves.
DEVELOPMENT
• A: The mesenchyme is the precursor tissue of
all types of cartilage. B: Mitotic proliferation of
mesenchymal cells gives rise to a highly cellular
tissue. C: Chondroblasts are separated from one
another by the formation of a great amount of
matrix. D: Multiplication of cartilage cells gives
rise to isogenous groups, each surrounded by a
condensation of territorial (capsular) matrix.
 GROWTH
• TWO PROCESSES

1. Interstitial growth

2. Appositional growth
 GROWTH
Interstitial growth, resulting from the
mitotic division of preexisting
chondrocytes
• In early phases of cartilage formation
• In epiphyseal plates of long bones
• Increase the length of long bones and in
provides a cartilage model for
endochondral bone formation
• In articular cartilage
 GROWTH

Appositional growth, resulting from the

differentiation of perichondrial cells
• Cartilage grows in girth only by apposition
• Chondroblasts of the perichondrium
proliferate and become chondrocytes
 CONTROL OF GROWTH
• HORMONAL BALANCE
• synthesis of sulfated glycosaminoglycansby
chondrocytes is accelerated by growth hormone,
thyroxin, and testosterone
• Slowed by cortisone, hydrocortisone, and
estradiol.
• Hypophyseal growth hormone somatotropin will
lead to the formation of somatomedin C in the
liver. Somatomedin C acts directly on cartilage
cells, promoting their growth.
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
processing owing frequently glycosaminoglycans this zone
hyaline
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
 APPLIED
• Tumors
– benign (chondroma) or malignant
(chondrosarcoma) tumors
• Degeneration
Asbestiform degeneration, frequent in aged cartilage, is
due to the formation of localized aggregates of thick,
abnormal collagen fibrils.
Poor Regeneration of Cartilage Tissue
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 Chondronectin
each other
groups of
chondrocytes or
are aligned in a
parallel
arrangement
along the
columns of
chondrocytes
 APPLIED

• Herniation of the Intervertebral Disk