CARTILAGE

Definition
• Specialized form of connective tissue
• Firm consistency of the extracellular matrix
• Allows tissue to bear mechanical stress
without permanent distortion
• It supports soft tissues
• Acts as shock absorber because of its
resilience
• Important in movable joints because of
smoothness
 Features
• Extracellular matrix enriched with GAGs &
proteoglycans interacts with collagen and
elastics fibers
• Variations in the matrix produces 3 types
of cartilage adapted to local
biomechanical needs
• Hyaline,elastic and fibrocartilage
• Chondrocytes produce the matrix
• Cells are found in matrix cavities called
lacunae
 Features cont’d
• Collagen , hyaluronic acid, proteoglycans
and glycoproteins
• Elastic cartilage has elastin making it
pliability
• Firm matrix depends on interaction of
collagen and GAGs
• Binding of water
• Avascular, diffusion from perichondrium,
synovial fluid
 Features cont’d
• Chondrocytes low metabolic activity
• No lymphatics, nerves
• Hyaline cartilage- type II collagen
• Elastic carilage- elastin beside type II
• Fibrocartilage- coarse type I collagen
• Perichondrium dense connective sheath
 Hyaline cartilage
• Most common
• Fresh is bluish-white and translucent
• Sites; embryo, articular surfaces,
respiratory tract, costal cartilages,
epiphyseal plates
• Martix; collagen type II, chondrotin
sulfates, keratan sulfate
• Structural glycoprotein chondronectin
 Hyaline cartilage
• Histology collagen is
indiscernible
• High water content so
it is a shocker
absorber
• Territorial/capsular
matrix poor in
collagen
 Hyaline cartilage
• Perichondrium
• Chondrocytes
• Isogenous cells
• Hormones growth
hormone, thyroxin
testosterone
stimulation
• Cortisone,hydro,
oestradiol inhibit
• Histogenesis
• Growth: interstitial and appositional
• Degenerative changes
• Regeneration
 Elastic Cartilage
• Auricle of ear
• Auditory canal
• Epiglottis
• Similar to hyaline but
abundant elastic
fibers
• Yellowish in colour
• Perichondrium
• No degeneration
 Fibrocartilage

• Intermediate between dense ct and

hyaline cartilage
• Intervertebral disks, attachment of
tendons, ligaments
• Always associated with dense connective
tissue
• Chondrocytes singly or in isogenous
groups seperated collagen fibers
• Type I collagen
• Stains acidophilic
• No perchondrium
• Degenerative changes not marked
End of lecture